Could I sing it like the Lord?

When I was an undergraduate, I studied with a very fine professor in our jazz department. One year, he gave us a wonderful assignment called “Adopt a Player.” We would choose one artist, in my case, a vocalist, and in that semester, we would study them exclusively, listen to their work exclusively. He said, “By the end of the semester, I want you walkin’ like’m, talkin’ like’m, and dressin’ like’m!” No pop radio blasting in the car or the dorm room was allowed. We would focus all our listening energy on one artist only. I chose Ella Fitzgerald. For one semester, Ella was my listening world. I woke up to Ella, exercised to Ella, drove my car to Ella, listened exclusively to this delightful artist until I felt I had Ella flowing through my veins. When Ella sang, it was like a warm, beautiful, dancing light was smiling on you. I loved her and as hard as the assignment was — it really takes some