I love scatting. The guy credited with creating the artform was Louis Armstrong. This is not the same thing as vocalese, which is what the great singer Eddie Jefferson did better than anyone else (at least in my opinion). Vocalese is when lyrics are penned to go along with a written instrumental piece or a transcribed solo. Scatting is total vocal improvisation, using nonsense syllables. Here are 6 of the best scat singers of all time.
Betty Carter - Tight
Dizzy and Pops - Umbrella Man
Jon Hendricks - Chega de Saudade (No More Blues)
Clark Terry - Mumbles
Okay, so I cheated a bit on this one. Terry wrote this to be mumbled through. But no two Mumbles were ever quite the same, were they?
Ella - One Note Samba
No one, but no one did it like Ella.
