The early 1990s marked the return of great singers. Many who had lived in near anonymity during the 1970s suddenly came back into view. Mature voices such as Freddie Cole, Oscar Brown Jr., and Jimmy Scott found new audiences, and Andy Bey was finally recognized as one of the most influential jazz singers of his time. “As soon as he opens his mouth, he takes you to another world,” said Jamie Cullum, highlighting how Bey’s delicate style created an almost mystical atmosphere. Bey himself called it “quiet,” a way of using his baritone voice with a sweetness tinged with melancholy. His soft-palate technique and darker timbre became his unmistakable signature. Audiences were not seeking vocal pyrotechnics from him – they sought something deeper, something transcendent. That voice fell silent forever on April 26 at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, the same state where Bey was born 85 […]