I've been thinking about this recently.

Over the last few years I have found that the best way for me to learn sngs is to try and listen to several versions - perhaps finding the ones that are easiest to learn the tune ( key and decoration) and the words ( Can I make out what they are saying and do I like that version of the words).    Have got the tune and words stuck I will then not listen to any version of the song again until I have sung it out quite a lot of times.

The reason I was thinking about it was that I have started a jazz class taught by someone who has heard me sing unaccompanied folk for a while.    I've been working on "Can't help lovin' dat man" ( perhaps more blues/show tune than jazz) and last week he told me that he had deliberately left me alone to develop the phrasing and that I have a unique way of putting a song across.   Unfortunately It was near the end of a busy class and others had to be seen to, so I coulnd't really ask him what he meant. Will have to buy him a beer and get him to elaborate.

It could be that because I am not soaked within the jazz tradition ( and there are definate Sinatra worshipers among the singing group ).   I have listened to some interpretaions but perhaps I'm bringing my tradional interpretation of songs to jazz.   Will it work ?   Will it change how I sing traditional stuff?   

Is it relevant to this discussion - possibly

J