Vocal Improv and Warm Ups for Jazz Singers

Ever wondered how vocalists improvise scat solos? Singer Marion Cowings will guide you through a series of warm ups, and then demonstrates how to use the words and melody of a song to inspire your improvised vocal solo!
Learn more at the Jazz Academy: academy.jalc.org
Marion Cowings - Vocals
Eli Yamin - Piano
Eric Suquet - Director
Bill Thomas - Director of Photography
Richard Emery - Production Assistant
Seton Hawkins - Producer

[@dmallett2380]

he's like a snazzy jazzy grandpa, I really enjoyed this

[@hollygamble15]

He looks like my aunt

[@yvindkjlen1066]

I want a girlfriend that looks at me the same way Eli Yamin looks at Marion Cowings.

[@juliebrammer]

Øyvind Kjølen 🤣😂

[@radio.wolfman]

Haha, oh man 😂

[@ploopybear]

lmao

[@palmtrzz4976]

Øyvind Kjølen I WAS GONNA SAY THAAAAAT

[@AndrianaSantiago]

Øyvind Kjølen 😂😂🤣🤣😂🤣

[@AlohaPorta]

the face he makes before doing the lion is priceless.. that emotionless tired of life yet still sassy expression
"again... on three"

[@thedevil1667]

I died 😂😂

[@Marshmallow_Trees]

Marion: Thank you...
Eli: 🎶🎵🎶
Marion: THANKS ELIIIIIIIIIII😠

[@LG-er6ng]

lol

[@museical72]

omg i laughed so hard

[@deepalmer3960]

I caught that! LMAO! Great singing, though!

[@DeborahFoxx]

i was not expecting the tongue thing. lol

[@yalph2506]

Me as well 😂😂

[@richard3165]

wtf

[@hachi5408]

I laughed so hard

[@musicalbynature]

Maybe he could have brushed his tongue before this video lol!

[@portellio_the_space_rider9473]

Eli looks so intrigued

[@redherring6268]

This guy is full 'o swag!

[@ArthurKaletzky]

"You took apart what once was my heart"

[@Lincoln1_5]

This man definitely is the coolest person in the entire World

[@shraddhapaimusic]

This idea of keeping communication with your audience intact through the scat bits - it's great, and one I find myself coming back to when I practice my solos. Thank you for that Mr Cowings - to be honest I haven't heard anyone scat that expressively before, but it sure would help an audience that isn't already elbow-deep in jazz.

[@TheSeeking2know]

Excellent point! Louis Armstrong was something indeed.

[@danmcbmusic]

outside of the super cool and somewhat off-the-wall presentation, this dude has vocal and musical chops to die for. You do not get to sing like that by accident. Respect sir.

[@minervacarrizo1576]

Stay with someone who looks at you like Eli. 💗
I always go back to this video. Marion Cowings, you are such an inspiration. I wish I could just once be a part of your jazz clinics, have a great conversation with you.
For now, greetings from Chile. Please, come visit!

[@jefflingyueyan]

I may be getting ahead of myself but that scatting tip felt like an instant cheat code! I always had the hardest time trying to scat with the “fitting” syllables and not sound like a 5 yr old… amazing how this is really just changing your mindset and does wonders!

[@l.harrison9725]

Marion does weekly vocal clinics at Small's jazz club- see live stream online, along with Mezzrow's. Love the idea of singing II-V's creatively instead of just scales to warm-up. Warning: do not do the Lion pose without using a Tongue-Scraper first!!

[@margaretgottlieb1516]

😭

[@auntehk]

does he still do this???

[@andretsang7337]

This is the kind of thing I'd expect to find in a New Orleans coffee shop, small business, of course, on a cool summer day. It's great, keep up the good work!!

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

I was in New Orleans last year and asked the house band in a cafe to play All of Me, after having seen this video. So great minds think alike ;)

[@guarrho]

There are no cool summer days in new orleans

[@deniaridley]

@@guarrho Truth.

[@anitaaustralia]

Dem pants... Vest. Tie. Neck. Thing. Omg. Swaggomatic!

[@zenamerica]

I mean, cmon. That was like watching perfection show you the recipe to how perfection is made. There are so many layer of maestro at work there. No doubt these videos will one day find their way into the National Archives. Marion Cowings deserves special recognition as a cultural bridge between generations and styles that will otherwise be forgotten and untold. He is a National Treasure & deserves the distinction.

[@kyungeunhan6181]

This is so impressive.. I draw for living and his advice is useful even for making art pieces.

[@tradesmanjaegs4992]

not for a living but i draw too and it does help

[@TheSeeking2know]

🤔

[@kwelathe4th]

He doesn't know it (and I don't know him) but he's officially my uncle!

[@deniaridley]

LOL

[@LuisFlores-xr5bu]

Lol

[@linasalamanca878]

Omg, I want his voice by my side the rest of the days of my life

[@AndrianaSantiago]

Incredible. Also. The comments. 😂🤣 just love you people!

[@alariaodaleo.6855]

my mom just ask me what im doing
1:13

[@KennyGuite]

😂😂😂

[@amarartemis]

Oh my God - you are way to old for me, but after your strangely silly but ever so convincing and impressive scat improv.... I'M GONNA TAKE ALL OF YOU!!!

[@andreluisalves4774]

Man, I just can't stop hearing you over and over again... Oh, if I could sing the same...

[@nbAbc-hl2lk]

Love this guy! He's got so much class and swagger!

[@ElevateMeditations]

Absolutely loved this! What a delight. Made me smile and blew me away with his killer scat skillsss

[@stampdealer]

This cat hasn't left any cool for the rest of us.

[@ihavetoomanyemailaddresses]

GOTdamn. a vest, necktie, tie, and blazer. and a hat. jeez lmao here for it

[@liukang85]

I like his style

[@ritadighent]

Just to clarify for any singers who might be confused: "I'll give you 2 measures up front", but the intro was actually 8 bars (measures)...thanks for posting a video that so many people got so much joy over : )

[@ArthurKaletzky]

The "2 measures [bars] up front" was the count-in, not the intro. "1 - and -2 - and | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 | " then the 8-bar piano intro.

[@TheSeeking2know]

@@ArthurKaletzkyThanks for actually clearing that up.

[@jefsut]

This made me smile so big! Thanks!

[@tonimena1121]

Simply amazing

[@ip3043]

so much musicality and expression in your Skatting, love it!

Thank you for sharing...I have been taking singing lessons since the summer of 2010 here in the Netherlands and singing old Jazz songs at a local theater, love it...but still learning to improve my voice...

[@JazzAcademy]

+Christina Köfer We've got a series of vocal lessons at a playlist here: czcams.com/video/EXFAe9hyuMI/video.html

[@tastelesssoperatatouille4396]

Christina Köfer same

[@karinparker9402]

Excellent!.......Thank you JALCJA and Mr. Cowings!

[@CarolineVesper]

the most amazing thing i've seen in months, love the last part, it helped me so much thank you!

[@JazzAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed it! Make sure to check out Marion's other lesson here: czcams.com/video/pVh213bJiNE/video.html

[@JayFolipurba]

No wonder the pianoman stares at him in awe like this... He has to look out for his conducting

[@TheSeeking2know]

Exactly. It's not just "awe", it's attentiveness.

[@JayFolipurba]

@@TheSeeking2know but also awe

[@logan9650]

Love this so much

[@kiriyachayakul7077]

I really love him.

[@sixsix911]

The guy on piano is looking at him breathless

[@jethromackenzie]

This was such a brilliantly helpful video. You're amazing my friend...great teacher..excellent singer..and an inspiration. Props to the pianist too. This is my beginning of my new found hobby/dream/soul-filling experience. Thank you my friend :D

[@Prospermiinow]

Thank you so very much Marion Cowings. Your explanations make it all so clear. Thank you Eli Yamin for showing inexperienced pianist how one should move with and support the movement of the vocalist. Thank you to those responsible for this series being made available. Thank you.

[@TheSeeking2know]

Yeah he was very attentive.

[@prakashchettri150]

you, sir, are amazing as a trumpet solo in a funky jazz musical night

[@Herehear49]

I love Marion's style. Reminds me a little of if you combined two masters: Jimmy Scott and Mel Torme.

[@karosonj1]

Those lyrics are fire 🔥😍

[@JonErikKellso]

Love this, Marion, thanks! Great advice, and not just for vocalists. Informative and fun.

[@igorcardoso4146]

hooo God Great Job,"All Of Me",I love it

[@Lb00gie90]

the scat part... so good!

[@TheSeeking2know]

Really enjoyed this. Sharing with my vocal friends. Connecting without words.

[@memebits9850]

So good!

[@susankande7461]

Love this!

[@the_savageshaman]

Omg….I’m in love!!!

[@caspardejonge5902]

Thanks Marion!

[@tinenefs]

Wow....this was so much delightful and excellent tuition.
Only started singing some jazz...Misty 💃🥰

[@kscape100]

Wonderful....Thank you.

[@heythere9806]

Thank you so much for this! I love jazz music and singers so much and I'm eager to learn about it. Thanks for the lesson 😘❤️😘❤️🥳🥳🔥🔥🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@Rosesforkitty]

Wonderful! Thank you!

[@Allen2saint]

Jazz wisdom right here.

[@NyaCrea]

this is so good !

[@kafoona]

Amazing

[@ava1267]

Love this guys! 💪🙌❤️

[@claywooten1801]

Not even the weirdest thing I've seen on CZcams today!

[@Tojoj22]

LoL I cured my back using this

[@deniaridley]

Hahahahah

[@alessyasdream4849]

really awesome, I enjoyed a lot!

[@ricardomsantos1211]

Parabéns ,um espetáculo,ótimo fica com DEUS

[@artera4114]

beautiful

[@vanessaarmonica3726]

Bautiful, congrats maestro!

[@MrElaguatero5]

Brilliant!!!

[@imbatokamoyoni2209]

I was always asking myself what am I singing ,thanks now I know...

[@1JulianneD]

thanks for the tips, and nice job!

[@meherparalikar]

Great explanation ❤️💐❤️
Thanks for the video

[@amrelgaml5273]

thank you master .... you are the one
you helped me too much to tell
thank you

[@ireneathanasiou1192]

Love ya Marion!!!!

[@lovelyplacetobe2020]

Excellent Video. Thank you

[@user-qm2nf1dx9t]

you're so ❤️ calming

[@riosweet4981]

I absolutely adore this man- I'd go American from Ireland just for him to teach me

[@snackgila]

Thank you. I need to try this.

[@SarahKellyKansas]

Thank you for this video! Very inspiring and helped me a lot. I have a higher voice so it's hard for me to find songs that I can sing. Improvising it might help me. Thanks!

[@rafaelortsespadero4870]

Muchas Gracias !

[@myrnanevesensicapds]

maravilhoso!

[@blues3824]

Great! I gotta watch this vid 4 more times.

[@sheisinmars4791]

he's amazing :)

[@mariacarolinadasilva384]

obrigada! thank you

[@sarahadams7206]

Thank you thank you thank you

[@evahunzicker1564]

in the scat part he makes a perfect character for twin peaks in the black lodge

[@siwon9997]

OMG!!!!!! I love you!!!!

[@Mario10016]

omg...he brought me JOY ...thx

[@bradymcatee4785]

Nice quote of "Struttin With Some Barbeque"

[@phoenixphoenix1130]

my favourite scat singer, jazzman is Andrzej Zaucha

[@skjortan]

Love ya!

[@itslazelstory]

the french part at @6:00 was awesome

[@larayulesingh8993]

I like it❤️

[@memebits9850]

This guy is cool

[@RamonaArena]

Hahaha LOVE him!

[@tiaade7101]

Hilarious AND informative! Great job!

[@OnAxisMusic]

Omg I love the lion! Thank you so much!

[@nslkifb]

I like very much.

[@richartquezada1317]

Waooo que buena musica

[@sallybowles2781]

It behooves me. I didn't know.

[@oscarseyer6614]

Bravo!! Fabuloso!! Está genial lastima que no entiendo nada