So You Want to Sing the Blues

Eli Yamin explores those essential elements that make the blues sound authentic and guides readers of all backgrounds and levels through mastering this art form. He provides glimpses into the musical lives of the women and men who created the blues and offers concrete explanations and exercises to improve any singer’s technique and expression.

Eli Yamin is an internationally presented pianist, composer, educator, and singer. He is the cofounder and managing and artistic director of Jazz Power Initiative, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ignite the power of jazz arts education to transform lives by fostering self-expression, leadership, collaboration, and diversity. Yamin is also the founding director of Jazz at Lincoln Center's Middle School Jazz Academy, leading its first decade. Yamin has performed in over twenty-five countries and in the United States at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the White House. He teaches jazz and blues history, piano, and voice at Lehman College, City University of New York, and Marymount Manhattan College.

Chapter 1 - Origins of the Blues Chapter 2 - Singing and Voice Science, Scott McCoy Chapter 3 - Vocal Health for the Blues Singer, Wendy LeBorgne Chapter 4 - The Magic and Mechanics of Blues Singing, Darrell Lauer with Eli Yamin Chapter 5 - Developing Authentic Style Characteristics: Early Blues Women Chapter 6 - Developing Authentic Style Characteristics: Early Blues Men and Another Woman Chapter 7 - Developing Authentic Style Characteristics: Chicago Blues and the Modern Blues Vocal Sound Chapter 8 - Making a Soulful Sound and Writing Your Own Blues Chapter 9 - Using Audio Enhancement Technology, Matthew Edwards