Inside the Archive: 2020 Master Classes
- Alexis Cole
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
At JazzVoice, we've built a library of over 500 classes, masterclasses, and workshops featuring some of the most respected artists in jazz. It's an incredible resource—but it can also be a lot to navigate.
That's why we created Inside the Archive.
This series is designed to guide you through the JazzVoice library by theme, curating standout moments from our archive and helping you discover teachers, ideas, and approaches you may have missed.
🎙 This Week's Theme: Master Classes from 2020
JazzVoice was born in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it was a difficult time for everyone, one unexpected gift was the opportunity to connect with extraordinary artists who suddenly found themselves at home instead of touring. Some of these teachers appeared with JazzVoice only during that unique moment in history, making these classes a special part of our archive.
This week's session revisits several of those early master classes, featuring a remarkable range of artistic perspectives. It's also an opportunity to honor two beloved artists who have since passed away—Miles Griffith and Jay Clayton—whose wisdom, generosity, and musical spirit continue to inspire through these recordings.
Though every teacher approaches music differently, they all return to the same essential questions: How do we communicate honestly? How do we make musical choices that are truly our own?
🎧 Featured Clips
Miles works with Don Gooding on developing a more intentional approach to scat singing, discussing syllables, phrasing, and how selecting the right key can dramatically affect a performance.
👉 Watch: 33:00–47:33
Vanessa reminds us that every lyric has a story worth telling. She encourages singers to move beyond simply singing the notes and instead communicate the emotional truth of the song.
👉 Watch: 5:00–12:40
Rather than recreating an old performance, Cyrille challenges singers to bring who they are today into the music. It's a thoughtful conversation about honesty, growth, and allowing each performance to reflect the present moment.
👉 Watch: 29:00–38:00
Jay shares wisdom on programming a performance, choosing repertoire you genuinely love, and creating a set that feels cohesive for both the audience and the performer.
👉 Watch: 1:15:24–1:24:15
In this extended coaching session with Karen Mack, Nicole demonstrates her energetic, highly musical approach to performance coaching, helping the singer discover greater freedom, clarity, and connection while shaping a compelling interpretation.
👉 Watch: 52:00–1:08:30
✨ Keep Exploring
These five clips offer a wonderful snapshot of the artistry found throughout the JazzVoice archive, but they're only the beginning.
Each master class contains over an hour of coaching, musical insight, and real-time problem solving that can transform the way you approach singing.
Join us for this month's Inside the Archive session as we revisit these memorable moments together, connect the ideas across each class, and help you discover even more treasures hidden throughout the JazzVoice library.
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