Singing Guide: Jimmy Giuffre
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Jimmy Giuffre was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, and arranger. His music is characterized by its subtle, introspective sound and non-standard approach to melody and harmony.
Giuffre's unique style was characterized by his use of unusual time signatures and his ability to create unusual tonal textures with small groups of instruments. His ability to play multiple instruments, including clarinet, saxophone, and flute, allowed him to develop a distinctive sound that blended the disparate elements of jazz and classical music.
If you're interested in learning to sing like Jimmy Giuffre, one of the first steps is to focus on developing your tonal abilities and your ability to create unique and surprising textures with your voice.
One of the best ways to develop your tonal abilities is to work on your breathing techniques and your ability to sustain notes for longer periods of time. Singing exercises like the Farinelli Breathing exercise and the Sustain Vocal exercise can help you develop these critical skills.
Once you've developed your tonal abilities and your ability to create unusual textures, it's important to focus on expanding your repertoire of jazz standards. Giuffre was known for his interpretive ability on classic tunes like "My Funny Valentine" and "The Night We Called It a Day," so working on these tunes can be an important part of your development.
In addition to studying Giuffre's approach to melody and harmony, you can also explore his use of unusual time signatures. Songs like "The Train and the River", which features a 5/4 time signature, can be great opportunities to work on your rhythm and develop your understanding of non-standard time signatures.
To support your learning, Singing Carrots offers several resources that may be of interest. Check out the Vocal Range Test to determine your range and compare it to famous singers, or explore the Vocal Pitch Monitor to see your sung notes on a virtual piano. The Pitch Training section is also a great resource for interactive vocal warm-ups, pitch visualization, and exercises for range and agility, while the Song Search feature can help you find songs that match your vocal range and difficulty level.
Overall, learning to sing like Jimmy Giuffre requires a combination of technical mastery, interpretive ability, and an openness to new and unusual musical ideas. By working on your tonal abilities, expanding your musical vocabulary, and exploring new musical frontiers, you can develop a uniquely expressive style that's all your own.