Hi, Lonesome: (Didn't they make a documentary about you?.. High Lonesome Sound?):-)

I tend to love the female jazz singers most, myself. I'd add one of my great favorites, Carmen McRae to the list, and for late night jazz, I can always listen to June Christie. At one time, I really loved Frank Sinatra, but he became a characiture of himself in later years. Mel Torme could always swing with the best of them, and I like Tony Bennett, too. I liked him even before MTV discovered him.

All that said, I love instrumental jazz, too... I find the "voices" just as expressive, with textures and nuances that are different but just as exciting to me. I tend to like jazz singers who sing with small groups, rather than full orchestras. I love Ella Fitzgerald's music and she always had good instrumentation behind her, but I would have loved to hear her more with just piano, drums, bass and guitar behind her... I loved her two vocals on the soundtrack of Pete Kelly's Blues for that reason.

Jerry