Scatting is a technique from the early ages of jazz music, brilliantly developed further by Ella Fitzgerald in the forties, and extensively used by Betty Carter in her music, based on bebop forms and improvisations. Scat singing is a difficult technique that requires singers to sing intricate improvised melodies and rhythms using the voice as an instrument rather than a speaking medium. Coming from France, the virtuoso vocalist Camille Bertault brings a whole new level of excitement to scatting. This Parisian lady is able to remember long, hard, and complex solos by other instrumentalists and reproduce it flawlessly. Her charm is irresistible, incorporating humor, which is an essential element in scat singing throughout history. To be more precise, this particular technique of singing famous jazz instrumental solos is called vocalese, but it’s equally demandable as scatting, if not more. Until recently, there was not much information circulating about her on the net, but now there's an official website where you can listen to samples from the album “En Vie.” The website states the following biographical information about Bertault:
“Since being discovered via the social networks (with more than 800 000 views and 30 000 followers on Facebook) where she sings the solos of the great jazz masters (such as her video of “Giant Steps” which instantly went viral), people have not stopped talking about Camille Bertault.
“While pursuing her diploma in classical piano at the conservatory, Camille was also studying voice and theater at the same time. After graduating, she enrolled in the jazz department where she continued her studies in music theory, composition, and improvisation. Driven by her passion for writing and literary composition, she wrote and published two musicals for the young audience. Camille then began singing her own French lyrics and poetry on jazz standards and, finally, on her own compositions. Her album “En Vie” offers a beautiful assembly of her writings, arrangements, and compositions which will be released by the New Yorker label Sunnyside and will be distributed by Naïve on April 22, 2016.”
Here are some of her home made videos where she showcases her extraordinary ability and talents, vocalese-ing over Coltrane’s “Giant Steps,” and other songs. Enjoy!
