Have You Heard ?: Etta Jones (Legendary Jazz Vocalist)

We were just recently introduced to a jazz legend who isn't spoken of much, but possesses an amazing voice.

Etta Jones is the American Jazz starlet who modeled the phrasing of Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughn, but encompassed the bite of Dinah Washington. Her earliest hits were "Salty Papa Blues," "Evil Gal Blues," "Blow Top Blues," and "Long, Long Journey". All of which were produced by Leonard Feather in 1944.

Etta Jones often was confused with Etta James in the 1960s... which aided in America's obscurity of her work. Her debut album Don't Go To Strangers was a critical success. She received a Grammy nomination for the album in 1960 and twenty years later received another nod followed by one in 1999.

She produced 9 classic albums with Prestige Records, launching a career which spanned a 60+ year period. Her last album being a tribute to Billie Holiday, released on the date of her death.

Last year, The Grammy's inducted her debut album into their Hall of Fame with a performance by legendary vocalist Chaka Khan.

Her full discography:

• Etta Jones and Strings, Original Jazz, 1960.
• Don't Go to Strangers, Prestige, 1960.
• So Warm, Prestige, 1961.
• Something Nice, Prestige, 1961.
• From the Heart, Prestige, 1962.
• Lonely and Blue, Original Jazz, 1962.
• Hollar!, Prestige, 1962.
• Love Shout, Prestige, 1963.
• If You Could See Me Now, Muse, 1963.
• Etta Jones Sings, King, 1965.
• Etta Jones '75, 20th Century, 1975.
• Ms. Jones to You, Muse, 1976.
• My Mother's Eyes, Muse, 1977.
• I'll Be Seeing You, Muse, 1987.
• Fine and Mellow, Muse, 1987.
• Sugar, Muse, 1989.
• Christmas with Etta Jones, Muse, 1990.
• Reverse the Charges, Muse, 1991.
• At Last, Muse, 1993.
• My Gentleman Friend, Muse, 1994.
• The Melody Lingers On, High Note, 1997.
• My Buddy: Songs of Buddy Johnson, High Note, 1998.
• All the Way, High Note, 1999.
• Easy Living, High Note, 2000.
• Etta Jones Sings Lady Day, High Note, 2001.

Check out some of her performances here and look for one of her albums when you go out to the record store:

Don't Go To Strangers

So I Love You

I Thought About You