While writing about Italy’s best jazz musician Mauro Ottolini, I came across the ethereal tones of jazz singer Vanessa Tagliabue Yorke.
She has a great voice, or at least I think so. It seems Ottolini agrees, as he and Tagliabue Yorke work together.
Tagliabue Yorke has worked with many of Italy’s jazz greats, as well as with Ottolini who’s well on the way to becoming a jazz great himself, it seems.
Trained artist, Tagliabue Yorke was born in Seregno, a small town to the north of Milan, but after making a name for herself in Italy for 20s and 30s jazz, she pops up wherever jazz is to be heard, both in Italy and over the Atlantic too, such as at the Bixfest in the USA.
Here are a couple of videos of Tagliabue Yorke in jazz singing action.
First a this pure jazz number:
“Idolizing”
There, I hope that got your foot a tapping!
Now here’s:
“Blue River”
More of Tagliabue Yorke’s vocal work can be found on YouTube and she’s on Facebook too.
Of you can come to Italy and here Tagliabue Yorke sing in one of the Boot’s many Jazz Festivals.
Correction via reader Tom Warmer: Idolizing is not a ragtime, but a “pure jazz” number.
Vanessa Tagliabue says
I am grateful to you all for the attention you have paid to my music and to the deep love we both share for traditional jazz music. Hopefully we could meet again sometimes as well. my very best regards
Vanessa 🙂
Tom Warner says
Here a a great favorite Rag of mine that typifies the sound and feel of ragtime music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7GLN5QLpF4
Tom Warner says
According to the information I’ve seen, the song, “Idolizing” is NOT a Ragtime number,” it is pure Jazz.
It was released in 1926 on a 78 record with Bix Beiderbecke playing with the Jean Goldkette Orchestra.
The song “Idolizing” composed by Irving Abrahamson / Ray West / Sam Messenheimer.
http://bixbeiderbecke.com/bixdisco/idolizing.jpeg
Alex Roe says
Do you think it sounds like a ragtime piece, Tom?
Tom Warner says
Nope. It sounds like jazz.
Here is a video of a true ragtime number written by Joseph Lamb and performed by the late John Arpin.
Ragtime has a distinctive quality about it that is different than the jazz that followed.
I’ve heard plenty of ragtime and traditional jazz, and have posted nearly 2500 videos on YouTube with plenty of both genres, and I love all of it.
Enjoy. 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLhHUJebzII
Alex Roe says
OK, OK will bow to superior knowledge, Tom, and have corrected the text and credited you to for the correction.
I guess pure jazz is the same as traditional jazz??
Arpin number is very good and I like Tagliabue Yorke’s rendition of Idolizing a lot too 🙂
Cheers,
Alex
Tom Warner says
In general, many folks attribute ragtime as a genre within the jazz category of music. Even so, ragtime does have its very distinctive quality that sets it apart from other forms of jazz.
Well, it’s obvious that I love Vanessa’s music to the extreme, as I have scurried about here and there to capture video of her performing. I was thrilled to record more than 30 videos of her at Racine, WI back in March 2012.
Yes, John Arpin was a wonderful pianist that was idolized by other performers and audiences alike.
I was quite pleased to happen across this article while perusing Vanessa’s facebook page.
Very nice indeed.
Fun chatting with you, Alex!
RagJazzMonkey Tom Warner
Alex Roe says
Good to chat to you too, Tom.
By the way, I’m in contact with Vanessa – she got in touch after finding this post – are their any songs you think Vanessa should add to her repertoire? If so, let me know and I’ll let her know. And if you are going to see her live, let me know too – maybe you too could have a chat about jazz and all that.
Seeing as you know lots about jazz, are there any other Italian jazz singers or musicians which deserve a little more attention? If you have any names, I’d be happy to hear them.
Thanks for the ragtime tips too 🙂
Cheers,
Alex