Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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As the home of Smithsonian Jazz, from the founding of Jazz Appreciation Month, significant collections from Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and many greats, to robust musical programming including the Smithsonian’s Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Senior Program Producer James Zimmermann shares the story of “Vocalese.” A style of singing that puts lyrics to improvised jazz tunes, Zimmerman, a trained jazz vocalist, shares his voice and the origins and evolution of vocalese.

For more information about Smithsonian Jazz visit: https://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz

For more information about Smithsonian Cares visit: https://www.si.edu/online