SARAH VAUGHAN & HER TRIO - Swingin’ Easy & at Mr Kelly’s
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55698
Swingin’ Easy
Disc One Tracks 1 to 8
Sarah Vaughan ( vocal ) John Malachi ( pno ) Joe Benjamin ( bass ) Roy Haynes ( drs )
Recorded New York, 2 April 1954
Disc One Tracks 9 to 13
Sarah Vaughan ( vocal ) Jimmy Jones ( pno ) Richard Davis ( bass ) Roy Haynes ( drs )
Recorded New York, 14 February 1957
At Mr Kelly’s
Disc One Tracks 14 to 23 & Disc Two tracks 1 to 11
Sarah Vaughan ( vocal ) Jimmy Jones ( pno ) Richard Davis ( bass ) Roy Haynes ( drs )
Live at Mr Kelly’s, Chicago, 6 to 8 August 1957
Bonus tracks
Disc Two Tracks 12 to 20
Sarah Vaughan ( vocal ) Jimmy Jones ( pno ) Joe Benjamin ( bass ) Roy Haynes ( drs )
Recorded Live at Zardi’s Jazzland, Hollywood, 21 May 1956
Disc Two Tracks 21 to 24
Sarah Vaughan ( vocal ) John Malachi ( pno ) Wyatt Ruther ( bass ) Fats Heard ( drs )
Recorded live at Birdland, New York, 31 March 1953
Over the years Sarah Vaughan Has worked and recorded with a multitude of different types of backing groups including the Billy Eckstine Orchestra, her earliest recordings, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Quincy Jones Orchestra.
Not all the backing groups were jazz based there were orchestras as diverse as as Percy Faith, Marty Manning, Airmen of Note and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra..
Much of her best work was done in the company of a piano trio which gave her the freedom to improvise and scat when she felt the urge.
The four recordings on these two CDs are all in the company of a trio and two of them have previously been released on two separate CDs, “Swingin’ Easy” and “At Mr Kelly’s ”which are possibly two of her best recordings.
Unlike many singers Sarah Vaughan’s voice did not deteriorate with age, in fact it became more burnished and slightly deepened although some of her character features became more pronounced.
These recordings all come from her middle period and therefore contain all the elements which made her a vocal stylist which made her the great singer she became.
“Swingin’ Easy” is one of the iconic jazz vocal albums of the period and rightly so as it contains jazz singing of the highest order.
Sarah’s versions of “Polka Dots and Moonbeams”, “Prelude to a Kiss” and “You Hit The Spot” have never been surpassed, in the latter she actually sings the little heard verse.
“Words Can’t Describe” from the later session which was added to the original CD release is a much under valued and under exposed song which Sarah gives a beautiful treatment and Jimmy Jones contributes wonderful piano solo.
“At Mr. Kelly’s is the next best thing to actually being at the performance and Sarah’s introductions to the songs add to the atmosphere of the occasion.
Some of the stand out tracks from Mr. Kelly’s are “Dream”, “Stairway to the Stars” and “Lucky In Love” which is something of a tune which does not receive many ountings which is a pity because a pleasant enough tune.
Good Versions of “Poor Butterfly” and “Embraceable You “ are present which were to become staples of her repertoire with good reason as they suited Sarah Vaughan’s style.
The bonus tracks are taken from radio recordings from live dates at two different venues, Zardi’s in Hollywood and Birdland in New York and although the sound quality is acceptable it does not match that from Mr. Kelly’s.
Her repertoire on both recordings is one that she was to use on many live dates although Ellington’s “Squeeze Me” is not a tune which cropped up very often and was a nice change to hear it.
We have the usual radio comperes which does tend to grate a little after a few plays but does not detract from the vocal performance.
These two CDs contain some of the best of Sarah Vaughan and with the attraction of the bonus track they are a must for any any admirers of her vocal talents and any listeners who have a love of great musical performances.
Reviewed By Roy Booth
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55698
Swingin’ Easy
Disc One Tracks 1 to 8
Sarah Vaughan ( vocal ) John Malachi ( pno ) Joe Benjamin ( bass ) Roy Haynes ( drs )
Recorded New York, 2 April 1954
Disc One Tracks 9 to 13
Sarah Vaughan ( vocal ) Jimmy Jones ( pno ) Richard Davis ( bass ) Roy Haynes ( drs )
Recorded New York, 14 February 1957
At Mr Kelly’s
Disc One Tracks 14 to 23 & Disc Two tracks 1 to 11
Sarah Vaughan ( vocal ) Jimmy Jones ( pno ) Richard Davis ( bass ) Roy Haynes ( drs )
Live at Mr Kelly’s, Chicago, 6 to 8 August 1957
Bonus tracks
Disc Two Tracks 12 to 20
Sarah Vaughan ( vocal ) Jimmy Jones ( pno ) Joe Benjamin ( bass ) Roy Haynes ( drs )
Recorded Live at Zardi’s Jazzland, Hollywood, 21 May 1956
Disc Two Tracks 21 to 24
Sarah Vaughan ( vocal ) John Malachi ( pno ) Wyatt Ruther ( bass ) Fats Heard ( drs )
Recorded live at Birdland, New York, 31 March 1953
Over the years Sarah Vaughan Has worked and recorded with a multitude of different types of backing groups including the Billy Eckstine Orchestra, her earliest recordings, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Quincy Jones Orchestra.
Not all the backing groups were jazz based there were orchestras as diverse as as Percy Faith, Marty Manning, Airmen of Note and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra..
Much of her best work was done in the company of a piano trio which gave her the freedom to improvise and scat when she felt the urge.
The four recordings on these two CDs are all in the company of a trio and two of them have previously been released on two separate CDs, “Swingin’ Easy” and “At Mr Kelly’s ”which are possibly two of her best recordings.
Unlike many singers Sarah Vaughan’s voice did not deteriorate with age, in fact it became more burnished and slightly deepened although some of her character features became more pronounced.
These recordings all come from her middle period and therefore contain all the elements which made her a vocal stylist which made her the great singer she became.
“Swingin’ Easy” is one of the iconic jazz vocal albums of the period and rightly so as it contains jazz singing of the highest order.
Sarah’s versions of “Polka Dots and Moonbeams”, “Prelude to a Kiss” and “You Hit The Spot” have never been surpassed, in the latter she actually sings the little heard verse.
“Words Can’t Describe” from the later session which was added to the original CD release is a much under valued and under exposed song which Sarah gives a beautiful treatment and Jimmy Jones contributes wonderful piano solo.
“At Mr. Kelly’s is the next best thing to actually being at the performance and Sarah’s introductions to the songs add to the atmosphere of the occasion.
Some of the stand out tracks from Mr. Kelly’s are “Dream”, “Stairway to the Stars” and “Lucky In Love” which is something of a tune which does not receive many ountings which is a pity because a pleasant enough tune.
Good Versions of “Poor Butterfly” and “Embraceable You “ are present which were to become staples of her repertoire with good reason as they suited Sarah Vaughan’s style.
The bonus tracks are taken from radio recordings from live dates at two different venues, Zardi’s in Hollywood and Birdland in New York and although the sound quality is acceptable it does not match that from Mr. Kelly’s.
Her repertoire on both recordings is one that she was to use on many live dates although Ellington’s “Squeeze Me” is not a tune which cropped up very often and was a nice change to hear it.
We have the usual radio comperes which does tend to grate a little after a few plays but does not detract from the vocal performance.
These two CDs contain some of the best of Sarah Vaughan and with the attraction of the bonus track they are a must for any any admirers of her vocal talents and any listeners who have a love of great musical performances.
Reviewed By Roy Booth
