Jazz Noir is a statement of style, mood, images, perception, and artistic aesthetic. Jazz and film noir movies go hand in hand, both obtaining cultural prominence in the 1940s and 1950s. I grew up with both genres and created Aoide Magazine to promote this aesthetic.
Jazz performed with singers and musicians in 1940s and 1950s jazz clubs, bars, and fine restaurants is a common theme in film noir movies. Jazz, especially cool jazz and vocal standard ballads, evoke the noir aesthetic. Leading singers all sang jazz noir style torch songs during that era. Many actresses played jazz nightclub singers in film noir movies including Rita Hayworth, Jane Russell, Lauren Bacall, Ann Sheridan, Kim Novak, Ida Lupino, Lizabett Scott, Anne Baxter, Susan Hayward, and others.
Film Noir is an American crime movie genre in the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s. It is about crime stories told from the criminal’s point of view. The films use black and white cinematography with dark shadows, symbolism, angle shots, twisted perspectives, and stylized scenes. Film noir expressed the doom, fatalism, and cynicism of the apocalyptic era of World War Two and the Cold War. Characters are helplessly trapped by forces beyond their control, paranoid, and are driven toward a tragic end. Heists that go wrong.
Stylish ‘glam’ fashion and decor, fancy night clubs, vintage cars, jazz singers, striking light and dark contrasts, symbolism, dark alleys, and lonely cityscapes at night are all elements of the noir style. Film noir characters include femme fatales, gumshoe detectives, desperate criminals, innocent damsels in distress, and jazz singers.
Jo Stafford
Jo Stafford (1917-2008) was a popular singer and actress of Big Bands, radio, film, and TV from the 1930s to the 1960s. She had many pop hits, won a Grammy, and had her own TV show. Stafford sang with Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Bob Crosby, Jack Benny, Johnny Mercer, Gordon MacRae, Dinah Shore, Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, and others.
Haunted Heart by Jo Stafford
A popular signature song of Stafford composed by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz.
Dexter Gordon
Dexter Gordon (1923-1990) jazz tenor saxophone, composer, and bandleader who was among the early be-bop musicians. Popular on stage for his genial and humorous showmanship playing to the audience. Gordon was nominated for an Oscar and won a Grammy for his performance in the 1986 jazz movie “Round Midnight”. He spent many years in the Paris jazz community. Gordon worked with Fletcher Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Billy Eckstine, Bud Powell, Gerry Mulligan, Ben Webster, Tony Bennett, and others.
I’m a Fool to Want You by Dexter Gordon
A jazz standard ballad composed by Frank Sinatra, Jack Wolf, and Joel Herron.
Anita O’Day
Popular singer seen as fun, hip, and cool who broke the stereotype of the ‘girl singer.’ Anita O’Day (1919-2006) jazz singer in stage, film, and TV. She gained popularity in the 1940s Big Band era and then the be-bop jazz trend. O’Day worked with Gene Krupa, Roy Eldridge, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Lionel Hampton, Art Pepper, and others.
You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To by Anita O’Day
By Cole Porter.
Sarah Vaughan and Clifford Brown
Sarah Vaughan (1924 – 1990) was a popular international star and one of the greatest jazz singers in history. Nicknamed “Sassy” and “The Divine One“, she won two Grammy Awards, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Grammy Hall of Fame, and was nominated for a total of nine Grammy Awards. She also won a Hollywood Walk of Fame and an honorary doctorate degree in music from the Berklee College of Music.
Vaughan began her singing career in the late 1940s with bebop jazz bands such as Earl Hines, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Bud Powell. She had a number of 1940s hits such as Body and Soul, Nature Boy, Summertime, Black Coffee, and Tenderly.
Vaughan reached stardom by the 1950s and was awarded by Esquire, Billboard, and Downbeat. She performed with Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, Horace Silver, Clifford Brown, Errol Garner, and Lester Young. By the 1960s Vaughan became an international superstar who was even asked to dance by President John F. Kennedy at a White House event.
Embraceable You by Sarah Vaughan
Performed with Clifford Brown. Popular standard composed by George and Ira Gershwin.
Jeri Southern
Jeri Southern (1926-1991) was an accomplished pianist and jazz singer known for her torch songs. She had several jazz vocal hits in the 1950s in the U.S. and UK. Jazz bassist Charlie Haden said, “She sang the way she spoke, in the most pure, honest, and vulnerable ways. She bared her soul in her singing.”
Every Time We Say Goodbye by Jeri Southern
Ballad composed by Cole Porter.
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday (1915-1955) is one of the greatest and most influential singers of all time, according to Downbeat, Billboard, Esquire, Rolling Stone, and NPR. Frank Sinatra said ”Lady Day is the most important influence on American popular singing.” She won four Grammys and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, Jazz Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Down Beat Hall of Fame, and ASCSP Wall of Fame.
Holiday performed with Teddy Wilson, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glen Grey, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Fred Astaire, Paul Whiteman, Oscar Peterson, Benny Carter, Lester Young, and many others.
I’ll Be Seeing You by Billie Holiday
A tender ballad composed by Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal.
Art Pepper
Known as one of the great jazz alto saxophone players who worked in West Coast cool jazz. Art Pepper (1925-1982) worked with Benny Carter, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Chet Baker, Anita O’Day, Wayne Marsh, Zoot Sims, Andre Previn, and others.
You Go to My Head by Art Pepper
Ballad standard composed by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie.
Carmen McRae
Considered one of the most influential singers of the 20th Century and often voted best vocalist by Downbeat. Carmen McRae (1929 to 1994) worked in music, film, and TV and received 7 Grammy nominations. She worked with Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis Jr., Dave Brubeck, Betty Carter, George Shearing, and others.
When I Fall In Love by Carmen McRae
Composed by Victor Young and Edward Heyman.
Chet Baker
Chet Baker was the ultimate fatalistic noir character type trapped by wrong decisions. A beat icon who was a popular and highly acclaimed musician and singer. His style was laid back cool jazz which was dark, soft, and mellow.
My Funny Valentine by Chet Baker
Baker sings a tender version of the standard tune which became a big hit. Composed by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart.
Julie London
Singer, actress, and fashion icon of stage, film, and TV from the 1940s to the 1970s. Julie London (1926-2000) was very popular and was known for singing torch songs with her unique sexy, sultry, and intimate style.
Cry Me a River by Julie London
Her signature song that was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Composed by Arthur Hamilton.
Miles Davis
Miles Davis (1926-1991) trumpet, who attained international superstar status. Miles Davis is considered one of the most innovative, influential, and respected figures in the history of music. The Guardian described him as “a pioneer of 20th-century music, leading many of the key developments in the world of jazz.” He has been called “one of the great innovators in jazz.” Rolling Stone said, “Miles Davis played a crucial and inevitably controversial role in every major development in jazz since the mid-1940s, and no other jazz musician has had so profound an effect on pop and rock. Miles Davis was the most widely recognized jazz musician of his era, an outspoken social critic and an arbiter of style—in attitude and fashion—as well as music.”
Ascenseur pour l’echafaud by Miles Davis
Composed by Miles Davis who created the whole soundtrack for the Louis Malle 1958 French film noir movie Ascenseur pour l’echafaud.
Dinah Washington
One of the most popular singers of the 20th Century. Jazz, blues, and R&B singer Dinah Washington (1924 to 1963) was awarded 5 Grammys, 5 #1 hits and 7 #3 hits, inducted into both the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. She worked with Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Clifford Brown, Cannonball Adderly, Ben Webster, and others.
Teach Me Tonight by Dinah Washington
Her version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Composed by Gene De Paul and Sammy Cahn.
Bill Evans
Bill Evans (1929-1980) jazz pianist, composer, band leader, he studied classical music and composition. He composed many songs that have become jazz standards. Evans is credited with influencing jazz and classical composition and the harmonic language of jazz piano. He won 7 Grammys with 31 nominations. Evans gained recognition playing and composing music with Miles Davis on the Kind of Blue album which is the highest selling jazz album of all time. He worked with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, Tony Bennett, Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Charles Mingus, Mark Murphy, and others.
Waltz For Debbie by Bill Evans
Evans’ most famous song composition which has been the most covered jazz standard with more than 300 recordings that won two Grammy Awards. This wonderful fun melodic version includes Bill Evans on piano, Scott Lafaro on bass, and Paul Motian on drums.
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald is the greatest jazz vocalist of all time and the most popular female jazz singer for more than half a century. Highly praised for her quality of voice, song interprettion, and ground breaking improvizational skills. She had purity of tone, impeccable diction, timing, and intonation. Ella recorded over 200 albums and sold over 40 million records. She received 14 Grammys, Grammy Hall of Fame, Downbeat Hall of Fame, National Medal of Art, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and many other accolades.
Ella sang with Chick Webb, The Ink Spots, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Buddy Rich, Roy Eldridge, Billie Holiday, Ray Brown, Nat King Cole, Joe Pass, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Oscar Peterson, Mel Torme, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, and many others.
Midnight Sun sung by Ella Fitzgerald
A jazz standard Composed by Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke, Johnny Mercer
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
A song from the highly acclaimed album John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Impulse Records, 1963. Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Considered by many as the greatest jazz album ever recorded.
John Coltrane (1926-1967) tenor and soprano saxophone, bandleader, and composer, who attained a global superstar and cult status. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes and was one of the players at the forefront of hard bop and free jazz. He led at least fifty recording sessions and appeared on many albums by other musicians. He partnered with Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Eric Dolphy, Johnny Hartman, Pharoah Sanders, and others. From 1955 to 1959 he worked with the Miles Davis Quintet and Sextet. During 1957 Coltrane worked briefly with the Thelonious Monk Quartet. His 1960s classic quartet is legendary, with McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Jimmy Garrison, producing some of the best recordings in jazz history. Over the course of his career, Coltrane’s music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension.
Johnny Hartman (1923-1983) a highly acclaimed Grammy nominated jazz and torch ballad singer known for his smooth baritone voice. He worked with Earl Hines, Dizzy Gillespie, Errol Garner, Howard McGhee John Coltrane, and others.
My One and Only Love by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Composed by Guy Wood and George Mellin.
Sources
Album covers
Allmusic
Downbeat
IMDB
Youtube
