About

Biography

Emmett Hatlelid is a jazz vocalist, crooner, and songwriter influenced by singers such as Al Bowlly, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Fred Astaire. He has a rich and warm timbre more akin to traditional jazz than the modern jazz singing styles. He recently completed his undergraduate degree under the guidance of Eric Severinson, Paula Kremer, and Kate Hammet-Vaughan, and is currently taking lessons privately with Brad Shigeta, a former member of the Mercer Ellington band and student of Hal Schaefer. Emmett has a love for history, taking pleasure in past pop-culture such as the musicals of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and the poetry of Emily Dickinson.

Examples Of My Work

Currently, there are no professionally made recordings. So for now, enjoy some videos of my past performances.

Oh, Lady Be Good! (1924)

An old standard with many famous renditions. My personal favourite is Fred Astaire’s version recorded in 1952, with Charlie Shavers on trumpet, Flip Phillips on saxophone, Barney Kessel on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, Alvin Stoller on drums, and Oscar Peterson on piano. Here I am Performing at Petra’s by L’aromas accompanied by Brad Shigeta on trombone, Stephen Robb on keys, and Emilio Suarez on bass.

Music by George and words by Ira Gershwin

Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, lady, be good to me

I am so awf’ly misunderstood
So lady, be good to me

Oh, please have some pity
I’m all alone in this big city

I tell you I’m just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me

This is tulip weather
So let’s put two and two together

I tell you I’m just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So, lady be good, to me

I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan (1929)

Here is my vocal duet, The Rambling Gentlemen, which includes Brad Shigeta singing and playing trombone, and Noah Gotfrit on guitar. Here’s us performing one of our favourite tunes at Surrey Fusion Festival in 2023.

Music by Sam H. Stept & Sidney Clare

I guess I’ll have to change my planI should have realized there’d be another manI overlooked that point completelyUntil the big affair began

Before I knew where I was atI found myself upon the shelf and that was that

I tried to reach the moon but when I got thereAll that I could get was the air

My feet are back upon the groundI’ve lost the one girl I’d found

I guess I’ll have to change my planI should have realized there’d be another manWhy did I buy those blue pajamasBefore that big affair began?

My boiling point is much too lowFor me to try to be a fly LotharioI think I’ll crawl right back and into my shellDwelling in my personal hell

I’ll have to change my plan aroundI’ve lost the one girl I’d found

The Very Thought Of You (1934)

I have a great fondness for Ray Noble, and of course his lead male singer, Al Bowlly. Noble wrote this tune specifically for Al Bowlly To sing, and so for my graduation recital I performed this tribute. I am accompanied by YounJoo Jee on the piano.

Music & Words by Ray Noble

I don’t need your photograph to keep by my bedYour picture is always in my headI don’t need you portrait, dear, to call you to mindFor sleeping or waking, dear, I find

The very thought of youAnd I forget to doThe little ordinary thingsThat everyone ought to do

I’m living in a kind of daydreamI’m happy as a kingAnd foolish, though it may seemWhy, to me, that’s everything

The mere idea of youThe longing here, for youYou’ll never know how slow the moments go

‘Till I’m near to you

I see your face in every flowerYour eyes in stars aboveIt’s just the thought of youThe very thought of you, my love

Nevertheless (1931)

The Mills Brothers are one of my favourite vocal groups, so I decided to transcribe their arrangement of “Nevertheless.” I am accompanied by Sam Dabrusin singing tenor, and Liam Simpson singing bass and playing guitar.

Music by Harry Rubin & words by Bert Kalmar

Maybe I’m right, and maybe I’m wrongMaybe I’m weak, maybe I’m strongBut nevertheless I’m in love with you

Maybe I’ll win, maybe I’ll loseAnd maybe I’m in for cryin’ the bluesBut nevertheless I’m in love with you

Somehow, I know at a glanceThe terrible chances I’m takingFine at the startThen left with a heart that is breaking

Maybe I’ll live a life of regretAnd maybe I’ll give much more than I’ll getBut nevertheless, I’m in love with you

Little Jack Frost, Get Lost (1947)

An underplayed winter tune by Seger Ellis, a largely forgotten singer and pianist who wrote a good handful of songs. Here I am Performing at Petra’s by L’aromas accompanied by Brad Shigeta on trombone, Stephen Robb on keys, and Emilio Suarez on bass.

Music and words by Seger Ellis

Little Jack Frost get lost, get lost

Little Jack Frost get lost

You know you don’t do a thing

But put a bite on the toesFreeze up the groundAnd take the bloom from the rose

So, Little Jack Frost go away, go awayAnd don’t you come back another day

There’s lots of cold feet, all the lovers complain

You turned off the heat down in lover’s lane

The bench in the park is all alone in the dark

So, little Jack Frost get lost, get lostLittle Jack Frost get lost