SARAH VAUGHAN - The Early Years 1944-48
ACROBAT ADDCD3251
Sarah Vaughan (v) with various orchestras and combos
Recorded 1944-48
This is the sort of compilation many jazz enthusiasts dream about but very seldom come across. Forty nine tracks on two CDs of all the early recordings by Sarah Vaughan between 1944 and ’48 from those independent labels like Crown, Musicraft, Guild, Continental and Gotham. Sarah had the sort of near perfect, in tune voice that would have been just as successful in opera as jazz but we are fortunate that she chose the latter. In many ways these early sessions represent the very best of her, as a jazz singer, already an instinctive improviser, immature but spontaneous and singing in company with the very best in the jazz business.
As for highlights there are so many it is difficult to know which to point out and which not. The sublime sound of her vocals with Teddy Wilson’s quartet behind her and his sparkling piano lines? The smoky voice and smooth jazz lines she had developed by 1947 with the Jimmy Jones Quartet? Early bop enthusiasts will go straight to tracks like Night In Tunisia with an all -star group including Dizzy Gillespie. Early Diz solos are a bonus and there are 3 tracks with a septet featuring Parker and Gillespie. Don’t Blame Me features her with the great Billy Eckstine orchestra of 1945 that included Fats Navarro, Bud Johnson and Gene Ammons; it’s not a great sound, coming from a radio transcript but the music makes it special. Another gem amongst many is East Of The Sun with Sarah stretching her voice in early bop mode and Dizzy sounding as though he’s just coming out of a Roy Eldridge bag and picking up the new music. All of these tracks are a joy for lovers of modern jazz vocals and well worth acquiring. Sound is variable from the early sources but the music makes it all worthwhile. Even if you already have some of these tracks it is worth getting this complete collection.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
ACROBAT ADDCD3251
Sarah Vaughan (v) with various orchestras and combos
Recorded 1944-48
This is the sort of compilation many jazz enthusiasts dream about but very seldom come across. Forty nine tracks on two CDs of all the early recordings by Sarah Vaughan between 1944 and ’48 from those independent labels like Crown, Musicraft, Guild, Continental and Gotham. Sarah had the sort of near perfect, in tune voice that would have been just as successful in opera as jazz but we are fortunate that she chose the latter. In many ways these early sessions represent the very best of her, as a jazz singer, already an instinctive improviser, immature but spontaneous and singing in company with the very best in the jazz business.
As for highlights there are so many it is difficult to know which to point out and which not. The sublime sound of her vocals with Teddy Wilson’s quartet behind her and his sparkling piano lines? The smoky voice and smooth jazz lines she had developed by 1947 with the Jimmy Jones Quartet? Early bop enthusiasts will go straight to tracks like Night In Tunisia with an all -star group including Dizzy Gillespie. Early Diz solos are a bonus and there are 3 tracks with a septet featuring Parker and Gillespie. Don’t Blame Me features her with the great Billy Eckstine orchestra of 1945 that included Fats Navarro, Bud Johnson and Gene Ammons; it’s not a great sound, coming from a radio transcript but the music makes it special. Another gem amongst many is East Of The Sun with Sarah stretching her voice in early bop mode and Dizzy sounding as though he’s just coming out of a Roy Eldridge bag and picking up the new music. All of these tracks are a joy for lovers of modern jazz vocals and well worth acquiring. Sound is variable from the early sources but the music makes it all worthwhile. Even if you already have some of these tracks it is worth getting this complete collection.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
