The Best Female Jazz Singers

The best female jazz singers in music history have a sound that's like no other. Their melodies and smooth tones captivate us and keep us coming back for more. Many of the famous women on this list have been gone for decades, but their incomparable jazz vocals will live on forever. 

How can any list of top female jazz vocalists not include black boss ladies Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan? Their unparalleled talents are indisputable, and their music only continues to inspire millions of people, especially today. Once you get into the best female jazz singers' top 10, it's really hard to pick one over the other.

Arguments can be made, of course, that Sarah Vaughan's versatility makes her the best. Some might say that no one can or will ever match Ella Fitzgerald's incredible tone (and certainly her scat abilities). Others would argue that Billie Holiday is not only the greatest female jazz singer in history, but one of the best female vocalists ever.

Some of the best modern female jazz artists include the wonderful Diana Krall, Melody Gardot, certainly Esperanza Spalding -- and yes, even Norah Jones. Norah's sound is more of a jazzy fusion, but she makes the cut. 

Vote below for your favorite trailblazing and current female jazz vocalists, and make to vote based on the quality of their music (albums and songs) and overall artistry, rather than simply their popularity or fame.