Singer or vocalist?

You might think that they are one and the same. I used to think that. Some of the greatest call or called themselves singers. Some of the most mediocre call themselves vocalists. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Tony Bennett called themselves singers. Some critics have dubbed Ella and Sarah as vocalists but I think that is in reference to their unbelievable grasp of their instrument. Recently I've noticed something curious: young singers (especially jazz singers) calling themselves vocalists.... seemingly to sound more legitimate as an artist. The term jazz vocalist has started to rub me the wrong way, as if it's not important enough to be "just a singer". (I think sanitational engineer.) (A side note: Great violinists often refer to their million dollar Strad, Guarneri, and Amati violins as "fiddles")

Before I start to ramble on more than I already have....

Jazz singers....be singers. Sing the songs. Vocalization is for practice. Singing is for performance, enjoyment , and art. Scatting is fine, but the best scatters were/are not coincidentally great singers. Singing involves more than just notes; it involves interpretation of lyrics AND how the notes and lyrics go together...a monumental task to do it well. The more I learn, the more I realize how ridiculously difficult it is!

Update

It's been awhile. So let's see what has happened.....
Left True North Cycling. Those who know me can get the story over a beer. Otherwise my professionalism prevents a public posting of the company's issues.

I'm coaching at the rowing club again. I missed it and it's certainly nice to be doing it in the fantastic weather and setting of Deep Cove. As on of the other coaches said, "Where else would you rather be?"

I've started running again and it's been a slow grind back to some sort of fitness. As I've been saying to friends, " It's like running with a bear on your back who's carrying a vacuum cleaner." Over the past few weeks I've dropped about 15 lbs which equates to convincing the bear to put down the vacuum cleaner. This is a major coup as three ago I had finally convinced him to change to the 8lbs Oreck XL but he wouldn't give it up altogether. I'm entered in the Vancouver Scotia Half Marathon this month and it should be OK. I'll go under 2 hours. Passable but but far from my PB.

I've started to take steps to get out and play some music again. It's been too long and I think that I have something to offer again. I'm so tired of seeing mediocre talent being praised that I really want to be sure that what I'm doing is relevant and not just another competent but time wasting act. You know what I mean...the music that you listen to and say ," It's OK." ; then you forget it 5 minutes later. There are a lot of acts out there that play or sing the notes but don't give anything fresh to the tune. I'm not suggesting that everything should be cutting edge, but it shouldn't be cheap and boring either. You can have a bowl of cheap ice cream or you can have a bowl of Ben and Jerry's. They're both ice cream but....