In vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. Scat singing gives singers the ability to sing improvised melodies and rhythms, to create the equivalent of an instrumental solo using their voice.
Though scat singing is improvised, the melodic lines are often variations on scale and arpeggio fragments, stock patterns and riffs, as is the case with instrumental improvisers. As well, scatting usually incorporates musical structure. All of Ella Fitzgerald’s scat performances of “How High the Moon“, for instance, use the same tempo, begin with a chorus of a straight reading of the lyric, move to a “specialty chorus” introducing the scat chorus, and then the scat itself. Among the greatest exponents of the scat style was Mel Torme, a child prodigy drummer who went on to become one of the most influential jazz performers of the 20th century. Tormé’s effortless scatting was built on his outstanding big-band arrangement and multi-instrumentalist skills.
The deliberate choice of scat syllables also is a key element in vocal jazz improvisation. Syllable choice influences the pitch articulation, coloration, and resonance of the performance. Syllable choice also differentiated jazz singers’ personal styles: Betty Carter was inclined to use sounds like “louie-ooie-la-la-la” (soft-tongued sounds or liquids) while Sarah Vaughan would prefer “shoo-doo-shoo-bee-ooo-bee” (fricatives, plosives, and open vowels). The choice of scat syllables can also be used to reflect the sounds of different instruments. The comparison of the scatting styles of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan reveals that Fitzgerald’s improvisation mimics the sounds of swing-era big bands with which she performed, while Vaughan’s mimics that of her accompanying bop-era small combos.
Enjoy some incredible scat singing by the Legends of the genre!
Ella Fitzgerald with Count Basie – Oh Lady Be Good
Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Torme at the 1976 Grammy’s (this is INCREDIBLE!!)
Sarah Vaughan – Scat Blues
A little new school from Ledisi!