The original and most organic musical instrument -- and still the most expressive by far -- is the human voice. A simple lyric delivered with emotion, subtlety and grace can say more than an entire symphony of finely crafted instruments. That's why jazz, for all of its evolutionary permutations over the decades, continues to revere the singer as much as the player. Whether the artist is a past master, like Ella Fitzgerald or Bobby Short, or a relative newcomer, like Tierney Sutton, the common denominator shared by every great jazz vocalist is the ability to explore the depth and nuance of the lyric and adapt the melody to make the song their own. Below is list of some of my favorite recordings -- timeless examples of the genre.

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  Lullaby Of Birdland

  Torme & Shearing, from An Evening With ...
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  Autumn Leaves

  Sarah Vaughan, from Crazy And Mixed Up
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  The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

  Andy Williams, from Live - Christmas ...
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  In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

  Carol Sloane, from Ballad Essentials

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