Patty Waters

The Profile

American avant‑garde jazz vocalist who emerged in the 1960s. After moving from Iowa to San Francisco she became associated with the New York scene and recorded for ESP‑Disk (notably Sings, 1965). Albert Ayler recommended her and College Tour documents early ESP‑Disk era performances. She stepped away from recording to raise a son and later returned for recordings and concerts (Love Songs, You Thrill Me, live releases in the 2000s).

Associated with ESP‑Disk; strongly influenced later experimental vocalists and has been cited in relation to artists such as Diamanda Galás, Yoko Ono and Patti Smith.

Two DeBaser reviews celebrate Patty Waters' radical vocal experimentation on Sings and College Tour. Reviewers link her to ESP‑Disk, Billie Holiday's influence, and later avant‑garde vocalists. The coverage frames her work as nocturnal, extreme, and highly influential within experimental jazz.