Its amazing. She sings the harmony notes at first, and I thought, maybe its because she cant sing the fast melody, but then when she does its amazing. Its like seeing a tai chi master beat up a young karate kid using only slow moves.
Sadia Bruce there are plenty of crap “jazz” vocalists, the good ones, who are proper musicians, that’s who I’m talking about. And Betty Carter was indeed, a very good jazz vocalist.
Oh and just listen to the backup group....... Geri Allen so wonderful, the great Dave Holland is so filled with creativity, and Jack DeJohnette is unbelievable...!!!
Not to dispute anyone in this thread but you have to include Sassy Sarah Vaughn in that group of great scat singers. Like Betty she was a singer/musician.
Yep. There is Betty BeBop, and more. All of whom are legendary, unique, and scat singers far beyond those of mere mortals. Aside from the brilliant Sarah, who was my home girl from Newark, NJ, off the top of my head there is the unforgettable Ella Fitzgerald, and Carmen McRae. All legends, all unique, all brilliant.
She was jazz personified. A unique sound, not necessarily beautiful, because her voice and improvisational skills were better than beautiful. She is the number one forever.
This is what I meant when made note on someone's comment on a youtube of Betty doing Lonely House who felt she was "out of tune". That listener needs to fix her ears on this if she needs convincing that Betty needing ear-training---don't think so---she was the ear-trainer par excellance.
One of the greatest Jazz singers America has ever produced. Absolutely, without question! I loved her singing. Saw many of her performances. One of the great pleasures of my life.
I agree with you Adrian. Luckily, I had a chance to meet her in London at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club - in the late 70's/early 80's and I felt I was in the presence of someone very great indeed. Very gracious and seemed just as interested in my life as I was in hers.
Geri Allen. And to the person above here who thinks the great Betty Carter "couldn't or wouldn't" sing in tune---ayyayay. I believe she never did anything tonally that was not completely intentional. She was completely and utterly in tune every moment here. You might want to look up the idea of 'outside' though.
Wonderful! Words don't describe the late-great Betty's grandeur. We just listen in awe and we feel 'everythang' that she gives, selflessly and almost, effortless ly!! I look forward to connecting with some musicians and collaborating on her song, Make Him Believe!!! So, musicians, melody makers (and 'what-not'...lol), let's rendition some Bette-Car!!! How fortunate we were/are to have Betty Carter!!!
Betty was so awesome, I saw her perform back in the 80's. She sounds so great and has so a wonderful playful spirit. Giant Steps with one of the Giants of Jazz, and what a band she has here, all of them giants!
There is only one Betty Carter. I love to hear her freestyle--simply amazing. And the little giggle at 6:57 is too much. 6:28 thru 8:02 is unreal. Rest in Peace Mama Betty. I know GOD is glad to have you back. I hope you are scatting at HIS feet.
I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Ms. Betty Carter perform at the Essence Music Festival in one of the superlounges at the Superdome in New Orleans. I was beyond the moon.
Geri Allen and Betty Carter together..great band two men and two women, not common in jazz at all. I love how everyone is working very hard on this tune.
In tune...out of tune. Who cares? There's an emotional element here. I'm aware thet some musicians take note of things like pitch. But most true jazz lovers or musicians just listen to the emotion and passion coming from all four of them. And THAT's what really counts. If your looking for perfection....pick up one of God's CD's.
It saddens me that I did not get the opportunity to see her beautiful face in my lifetime. Betty Carter is my vocal inspiration! This is on replay... Always! #ILoveBettyCarter
May 16: Happy birthday Jazz singer-Scat Miss Betty Carter; Grammy Award: Best Jazz Vocal Performance-Female (1929-1998) Thank you and God bless. Thanks for the upload, emmadetten. RIP Miss Betty. Blessings
All three gone now....Saw Betty Carter live at Miettas in Melbourne, with Drummer friend Alf Properjohn, she was great and with a younger band, she sang much straighter in her younger years, and over time evolved into this horn like singer with a double bass looseness, but such a great tone always, a naturally big volume, like Sarah....Met in 98 a great Trumpeter/arranger who had the privilege of arranging on albums for both Betty and Shirley Horn, both were very different but phrased like goddesses...The arranger went on to earn grammies for arranging for them...He is NYs Don Sickler...xx
Arguably, this John Coltrane composition is the most challenging (to play over) tune in the entire history of this music. Structurally, the tune is a true 3-tonic system, with all of the keys major thirds apart. (The bridge to Rodgers and Hart's "Have You Met Miss Jones" also does this, but only for eight bars; this tune does nothing but modulate to each of the three equidistant keys, EVERY FOUR BARS.) The pianist, Geri Allen, of whom I had never heard of before this (I'm embarrassed to admit) is great; Holland and DeJohnette are their usual impeccable selves; Carter is, as she always is, Supernatural.
WOW !!! Has anyone ever written a LYRIC to this Amazing tune? Couldn't sleep last night , so I wrote a simple , loving lyric .... Now Honing & Arranging it !
Little-known fact: the great Australian pianist & composer Paul Grabowsky once improvised a marvellously moving set of lyrics to Giant Steps as a spoken recitative during a performance at Melbourne's Bennetts Lane jazz club, which I was lucky enough to attend. As I recall, it went roughly like this: Giant, giant steps / Giant, giant steps / Giant steps / Giant steps / Giant steps / They are BIG! Unforgettable stuff …
Hear the truly wonderful singer Meredith d'Ambrosio (also wonderful pianist AND sensitive visual artist: all her album covers are her own paintings) sing her own lyric to Giant Steps: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sUIZontufvs.html (If you follow her story, clicking through her site - www.meredithdambrosio.com to Marc Myers' "JazzWax" Blog you'll discover how she was close to 'Trane himself - she's "The Real Thing": a TREASURE and NOTHING LESS!).
Y'all can be jealous, I had the pleasure of meeting her in person after a concert. A wonderful lady, who gave her all in a concert. She worked up a sweat! I'll always remember!
I love it! In the beginning, It's like she's stretching in the morning (Imagine just waking up, feeling the muscles & the energy), then they let it rip in Betty's inimitable style. Reminds me of why I love jazz (virtuoso playing/singing with excellent improvisation). Plus it's not all about the lead- what she's doing wouldnt be half as good without such strong players. Love the look she's giving Pianist -(5:05) it's like, "yeah,uh huh, I approve"
If I may be so bold, and in case you don't know it, this version is "no joke": ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-d5nkqZe9efg.html - One of my favorite pianists of all time (his trio version from his "Tete!" album is up next on the RU-vid playlist and really a masterpiece too...).
There are very many good scatologists. Perhaps, there are even quite a few great scatologists. Yet, Betty Carter has to be set apart in the world of jazz. For her, vocalese is not an extension or an afterthought. It is foundational to the performance.
I feel drawn into this interpretation! I had the priviledge to meet this quintessential lady of Jazz! The Bebop Queen indeed! When I saw her back in 1987-1988 she had an incredible young piano player! He was a baaaad cat! I apologize for not remembering his name. Would anybody know who I may be referring to who played with her at that time? He was a young white gentlemen who looked like he was just out of high school! I know that he leads his own band now!
She was the greatest of all! She was a real musiian, leader, look how she conduct any of her bands. And she was singing SOLOS and IMPROVISING. Not one of those who just sing the head and the extro, and leave the trio playing most of the time!...These ones should be payed less than their trios and have their names smaller on the poster! Thank you Betty for being such a great improviser.
I don’t understand lol I’m not sure if I can grasp the profession of the piano but she has the most perfect song phrase choices everytime this is really cool✨
@kimzombik Technically quarter notes here are not flat, certainly not if they're matched soon after and thus resolved - anyway your issues are fully taken care of by this woman in RIA 1977 Medley - where her brain is a tuning fork. (PS she scats here sharp of pitch, also, intentionally - a hip trademark of Betty's - last notes w bass are dead-on unison!) cheers
@@dariuscameron5174 Divine. The most beautiful sound known to man. In the words of Gunther Schuller, no less, "The greatest vocal artist of The 20th Century"! I'd sign off on that - but, obviously, Ella Fitzgerald REALLY IS "The First Lady of Song" and in no way should be under-estimated - the emotion of each artist is different... and, as is obvious here, Betty Carter IS one of the immortals too - and it's quite a list: Anita O'Day was SO VERY, VERY great, Carmen, Nancy Wilson - these are all "top of the heap". As to your specific question: Sarah every time for me personally.
No doubt, and young, amazing Jazzmeia Horn, whom I've seen both in NY, and LA. They are both fire, and the real, classic Jazz deal, and there are others as well. Betty had vocal Jazz stylings, and phrasing however, that was uniquely hers. If you know Jazz you can never mistake her in this music genre.
Bought John Coltrane album Giant Steps when I lived in manchester 1961, came across Betty Carter version on utube recently loved her version I'm not sure admit this but Betty Carter version brings tear to my eye.
Mads - It is a helluva song indeed. And thanks for watching my silly stuff -it's my bread and butter. My scat singing is just getting started and frankly, is too amateur for publication. But I've been a Betty Carter fan for years and am currently seriously addicted. There's a very good, although a trifle academic and dense, 2003 biography of her, "Open the Door" by William Bauer. I love that her singing and her personality shine through everywhere.
TOUCHING !! cover version, bought this John Coltrane Album in 1960 in Manchester UK ( Hime and Addison, Braznose Street ) Town centre. Boringly nostalgic I concede, but there you go.
unequaled to see her live, she was directing the band the whole time and a band of this caliber!! all leaders in their own right absolutely no one like her, ever or since
