Jazz is all about the improvisation of melodies and notes, so it makes sense that the singing is often improvised too. Scat singing is a unique form of vocal jazz that you just have to hear to appreciate. In this blog, we’ll discuss what scat singing is, how it got started, and some famous scat singers.
What Is Scat, Exactly?
If you want to get technical, scat is defined as “vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables, or without words at all.” Scat is wordless singing with small bursts of syllables and sounds. It has a very distinctive sound, as if the singer is becoming one with the instruments being used! You won’t be able to pick out any actual words, but you can sure feel the emotions being conveyed. Scat allows the singer to improvise the same way a jazz pianist or saxophonist can improvise their melody within the greater context of the song.
The Origins of Scat: Who Started Scat Jazz?
Going back, scat has origins in West African music, where sounds and syllables were sung to match the rhythm of the drums.
There’s a rumor or theory that scat got its real start when a jazz singer (maybe even Louis Armstrong himself) forgot the lyrics and, in a moment of ingenuity, scatted random sounds in place of the song lyrics they had forgotten, and thus scat was born.
Whether or not this is true, the famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong is credited with really getting scat on the map. Over time, scat took on several different styles, tailored to the individual singer’s style as well as the music of the time. Certain singers even focused on a particular instrument being played!
Famous Scat Singers
These singers were known for their innate ability to scat:
Louis Armstrong: As we mentioned above, he’s credited with popularizing scat, if not starting it altogether!
Ella Fitzgerald: The Queen of Song herself, Ella Fitzgerald is perhaps the best known name when it comes to scat.
Sarah Vaughan: if you’re in the mood for some bebop, Sarah Vaughan’s the scat singer you want to listen to!
Other singers who dabbled in scat singing include Frank Sinatra, Bobby McFerrin, and Aretha Franklin.
