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Best Female Singing Voice

Personal Favorites, in no particular order;

Alison Krauss
Christine McVie
Eva Cassidy
Whitney Houston
Patsy Cline
Celine Dion
Karen Carpenter

I'd call any of them the best on any given day...
 
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“Best” ?? Really, what is that?

We’ve been blessed by some amazing talents. My most profound amazement for a female vocalist has been Aretha. I recall seeing the MTV show highlighting the “Divas,” including a bunch of the then current female pop singers; and they made the mistake of including Aretha, who came on stage and just made them all sound insignificant. No doubt, that show is somewhere on YT. Very instructive.

Otherwise, there are a bunch, already mentioned, who are simply fabulous, past and present. Joan Osborne, Ella Fitzgerald, Bonnie Raitt, Gladys Knight, Janis, Grace Slick, Etta James etc etc etc. We should be so lucky.

Last thing is that IME, there is a special musical thing between a bass player and a female vocalist. The two are just yin yang in the music. I always enjoy backing female vocalists on stage. Just has a special musical thing happening.
 
There's so many. My favorite jobs were when I could back a great lady singer, just the best for me.

In no particular order, and knowing damn good and well I'll remember more after I post this . . . .

Ella Fitzgerald
Dionne Warwick
Donna Summer
Natalie Cole
Barbra Streisand
Gladys Knight
Mavis Staples
Aretha Franklin
Patti LaBelle
Trisha Yearwood
Patsy Cline
Dottie West
Jeannie Sealy
Trisha Yearwood
Connie Smith
Annie Lennox
Christine McVie
Dame Shirley Bassey
Whitney Houston
Shirley Ceasar
Emmylou Harris
Dolly Parton
Allison Krauss
Rhonda Vincent
Bonnie Raitt
Linda Ronstadt

THIS always sends chills down my back.
 
Best is hard to quantify because it means different thing to different people. so i will say, my favourite female singing voice is that of Chaka Khan.
I have enjoyed the vocals of so many singers in my life but she has something about her voice that keeps her on the top of my list.
That said, i am less drawn to her voice when i hear it in a standards jazz context.
 
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