SARAH VAUGHAN — Sassy Swings The Tivoli (Complete Version) 2xCD (1963-1987) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

After four years on Roulette, Sarah Vaughan returned to Mercury (her main label of the 1950s) with this wonderful live session, one of her very best of the 1960s. Joined by her rhythm section of the period (pianist Kirk Stuart, bassist Charles Williams and drummer Georges Hughes), Vaughan is quite expressive on such signature tunes as "Misty," "Sometimes I'm Happy," "Tenderly" and "I Cried For You." A gem. Scott Yanow
Tracklist 1 :
1     I Feel Pretty 2:34
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim    
2     Misty 5:56
Johnny Burke / Erroll Garner
3     What Is This Thing Called Love? 2:04
Cole Porter    
4     Lover Man 5:56
Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
5     Sometimes I'm Happy 4:30
Irving Caesar / Clifford Grey / Vincent Youmans
6     Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey? 3:14
Hughie Cannon    
7     Tenderly 2:33
Walter Gross / Jack Lawrence    
8     Sassy's Blues 5:40
Quincy Jones / Thad Jones / Sarah Vaughan
9     Polka Dots and Moonbeams 4:27
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen    
10     I Cried for You 2:20
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman    
11     Poor Butterfly 3:12
John Golden / Raymond Hubbell
12     I Could Write a Book 2:21
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
13     Time After Time 4:56
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne    
14     All of Me 1:43
Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons    
15     I Hadn't Anyone Till You 3:17
Ray Noble    
16     I Can't Give You Anything But Love 2:46
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
Tracklist 2 :    
1     I'll Be Seeing You 5:32
Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal    
2     Maria 5:51
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim    
3     Day In - Day Out 2:15
Rube Bloom / Johnny Mercer    
4     Fly Me to the Moon 4:39
Bart Howard    
5     Baubles, Bangles and Beads 3:07
Alexander Borodin / George Forrest / Robert Wright
6     The Lady's in Love With You 2:15
Burton Lane / Frank Loesser    
7     Honeysuckle Rose 3:14
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller    
8     What Is This Thing Called Love? 2:01
Cole Porter    
9     Lover Man 4:06
Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
10     I Cried for You 2:19
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman    
11     The More I See You 5:26
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren    
12     Say It Isn't So 5:11
Irving Berlin    
13     Black Coffee 4:40
Sonny Burke / Paul Francis Webster    
14     Just One of Those Things 2:33
Cole Porter    
15     On Green Dolphin Street 3:04
Bronislaw Kaper / Ned Washington    
16     Over the Rainbow 5:10
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
Credits :
Bass – Charles Williams
Drums – George Hughes
Performer – The Kirk Stuart Trio
Piano – Kirk Stuart
Producer – Quincy Jones
Vocals – Sarah Vaughan

SARAH VAUGHAN & QUINCY JONES — You're Mine You (1962-2016) RM | Serie The Jean-Pierre Leloir Collection | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This LP finds Sarah Vaughan backed by big-band and string arrangements from Quincy Jones that could easily have been used for a Frank Sinatra date. Vaughan's voice is typically wondrous and sometimes a bit excessive on the ballads (some may find her slightly overblown version of "Maria" a bit difficult to sit through), but in top form on the more swinging numbers. In the repertoire are such tunes as "The Best Is Yet to Come," "The Second Time Around" and "Baubles, Bangles and Beads." More of a middle-of-the-road pop date than a creative jazz session (the personnel is not given), the set is not essential but should please those who love the sound of Vaughan's remarkable voice. The final two "bonus" numbers ("One Mint Julep" and "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean") were originally released as a single. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. You're Mine You (4:03)
2. The Best Is Yet to Come (2:55)
3. Witchcraft (3:01)
4. So Long (2:57)
5. The Second Time Around (3:45)
6. I Could Write a Book (2:26)
7. Maria (3:16)
8. Baubles, Bangles and Beads (3:40)
9. Fly Me to the Moon (2:59)
10. Moonglow (2:33)
11. Invitation (2:21)
12. On Green Dolphin Street (3:07)
13. One Mint Julep (2:51)
14. Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean (2:45)
15. Gone with the Wind (3:30)
16. Day by Day (3:12)
17. Please Be Kind (3:17)
18. Live for Love (3:26)
19. I'll Close My Eyes (3:42)
20. Misty (3:05)
21. The Midnight Sun Will Never Set (2:53)
22. That's All (3:33)
23. I'm Lost (3:42)
24. Love Me (3:15)
25. The Thrill Is Gone (2:30)
Credits :
Arranged By, Conductor – Quincy Jones
Orchestra – Quincy Jones And His Orchestra
Vocals – Sarah Vaughan
Notas :
Sarah Vaughan (vocals) Orchestra arranged & conducted by Quincy Jones
New York, early January 1962. Original sessions produced by Teddy Reig.

*Bonus tracks (13-14): Same personnel and date, but not included on the original LP. Originally issued in 1962 on the 45rpm single Roulette 4413

**Bonus Album (15-25): Vaughan and Violins
Sarah Vaughan (vocals). Orchestra & Strings conducted & arranged by Quincy Jones
Paris, France, July 7, 8 & 12, 1958. Original sessions produced by Jack Tracy

On the cover: Sarah Vaughan and Quincy Jones at Jone's Paris home, July 27, 1958
Photos © by Jean-Pierre Leloir

CLIFFORD BROWN – Brownie : The Complete EmArcy Recordings of Clifford Brown (1989) RM | 11xCD BOX-SET | MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although undoubtedly an expensive acquisition, this ten-CD set is perfectly done and contains dozens of gems. The remarkable but short-lived trumpeter Clifford Brown has the second half of his career fully documented (other than his final performance) and he is showcased in a wide variety of settings. The bulk of the numbers are of Brownie's quintet with co-leader and drummer Max Roach, either Harold Land or Sonny Rollins on tenor, pianist Richie Powell, and bassist George Morrow (including some previously unheard alternate takes), but there is also much more. Brown stars at several jam sessions (including a meeting with fellow trumpeters Clark Terry and Maynard Ferguson), accompanies such singers as Dinah Washington, Helen Merrill, and Sarah Vaughan, and is backed by strings on one date. Everything is here, including classic versions of "Parisian Thoroughfare," "Joy Spring," "Daahoud," "Coronado," a ridiculously fast "Move," "Portrait of Jenny," "Cherokee," "Sandu," "I'll Remember April," and "What Is This Thing Called Love?" Get this set while it stays in print. Scott Yanow   Tracklist + Credits :

CLIFFORD BROWN – Joy Spring (2005) 4xCD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Joy Spring is a four-CD, budget-priced box set from the folks at Proper in the United Kingdom. This is a pretty handsome overview that touches on all aspects of Clifford Brown's mighty but tragically brief career. Disc one, "Dial B Fr Beauty" contains sides he cut in 1952 as a member of Chris Powell and the Blue Flames; documents from his stint with Tadd Dameron; tracks from a short-lived quintet with Lou Donaldson, Elmo Hope, Percy Heath, and Philly Joe Jones in 1953, and sides recorded when he was part of J.J. Johnson's Septet -- all these sides virtually chronicle Brown's ascent into the jazz world and serve, so to speak, as a showcase for the first three sides he cut on his own, in a band that included Charlie Rouse, Art Blakey, John Lewis, Gigi Gryce, and Heath, with material arranged by Quincy Jones. Standout cuts are "Wail Bait," and "Hymn of the Orient," as well as Dameron's "Choose Now." Disc two, entitled "Conception," begins with Brown's own sextet and his versions of "Cherokee," and "Brownie Eyes." Later in '53, Brown played with Art Farmer in Sweden, and with a European orchestra that included a number of stalwarts like Walter Williams, Gryce, and Pierre Michelot, with Jones writing the charts. But the coolest stuff here are the sides cut with the Brown/Gryce sextet and octet, these also commence disc three, entitled "Clifford's Axe," which straddles September of 1953 to October of that same year. Disc three is rounded out with the first-ever-performances-on-record of the Clifford Brown-Max Roach quintet as they cut "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" and "Sunset." The final CD in this package is devoted almost exclusively to this last group of musicians -- the Clifford Brown-Max Roach quintet -- documenting the various phases they went through in 1954. From "Dahoud" and "Delilah" to "Jor Du" and their stellar read of "Parisian Thoroughfare." The box set closes with a cut from Sarah Vaughan backed by Brown, Roy Haynes, Paul Quinichette, Herbie Mann, Jimmy Jones, Ernie Wilkins, and Joe Benjamin, on a lovely version of "You're Not the Kind" with a sweet and moving Brown solo. This is a fine introduction to Brown, nicely priced, with decent sound, and it makes a great companion to the excellent Emarcy LPs of the Brown-Roach bands.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa'<-
Tracklist :
CD1 Dial B For Beauty
CD2 Conception
CD3 Clifford's Axe
CD4 I Get A Kick Out Of You
All Tracks + Credits :

DIZZY GILLESPIE – 1945 | The Classics Chronological Series – 888 (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Here's a case where strict adherence to a chronology bears fascinating fruit. Classics 888 focuses only upon January and February of 1945, a small chunk of time during which Dizzy sat in with certain wild bands and made his very first recordings as a leader. On January 9th, a number of musicians from different stylistic backgrounds showed up late to record with Oscar Pettiford, who eventually admitted that he hadn't any idea of what they were going to use for material. Pianist Clyde Hart offered to slap a few charts together on the spot. "Something for You," known elsewhere as "Max Is Making Wax," came out brisk and boppish with powerful blowing from Don Byas, Diz and swing trombonist Benny Morton, who seems to have worked extra hard to fit in with this fast crowd. "Worried Life Blues," composed by blues and boogie-woogie pianist Big Maceo Merriweather, featured vocalist Rubberlegs Williams, who growled, howled and occasionally barked in a way that brings to mind one of Fats Waller's favorite habitual exclamations: "Get away from here!" "Empty Bed Blues," while attributed to Oscar Pettiford, is clearly a Bessie Smith cover. Diz growls ominously with his horn behind the vocal. Retaining some of the players from the Pettiford group, Dizzy's Sextet sounded very well-organized by comparison. The trumpeter's handling of "I Can't Get Started" is breathtakingly beautiful. Tadd Dameron's irresistible "Good Bait" sounds as solid and immediate as the day it was made. In his autobiography, To Be or Not to Bop, Gillespie said he had "composed a fast thing, and just named it ""Be Bop"" later on...it didn't have a name before the record date." "Be Bop" is one brilliant and bracing piece of work, surprisingly put together. After ripping through a whole lot of wild changes, each player contributes a brief note or two for a composite coda. Before the month of January had ended, a famously weird session came together and then blew apart at the seams. Nominally led by Clyde Hart, it began with several vocals by a louder-than-ever Rubberlegs Williams. Apparently seeking to maintain his edge, the blues shouter consumed many cups of coffee, unaware of the fact that the caffeine in question had been steeply fortified with Benzedrine by the ever-resourceful Charlie Parker. At first, Legs sounded only marginally manic, humorously gruff in the throes of his boisterous R&B showmanship. By the time they got around to recording "That's the Blues," the singer must have been completely geeked, as he began his vocal at full intensity, with nowhere left to build to. Halfway through the record, his voice started to disintegrate as Legs approached the vocal intensity of Screamin' Jay Hawkins. Dizzy swears that Legs never drank or smoked, while Trummy Young insisted the singer was also full of whiskey, which would have mixed horribly with the amphetamine. In any case, after he passed into a state of chemically induced psychosis, Williams was led away and the ensemble magically re-grouped itself as James "Trummy" Young's All-Stars. The mood changed to a very hip level of calmness as Trummy sang pleasant melodies in a soft and friendly voice. The contrast between this and the previously hard-hitting rhythm and blues material -- recorded by all but one of the same musicians on the same day -- is astonishing, as is the interplay between Sarah Vaughan and Ben Webster on "All Too Soon," between Diz and Dexter Gordon on "Blue 'n Boogie" and most of all, between Bird and Diz. Cherish every nuance of these early recordings of "Groovin' High" and "All the Things You Are"; they are intimate works of great poetic depth, existing at the heart of these amazing collaborative friendships. arwulf arwulf         Tracklist + Credits :

BILLY ECKSTINE AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1944-1945 | The Chronogical Classics – 914 (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of the most glaring gaps in the jazz reissue boom is a thorough chronicle of Billy Eckstine's bop era work with both Earl Hines' group and his own innovative outfits. A veritable workshop for the era's teaming bop talent, Eckstine's big bands captured Charlie Parker's and Dizzy Gillespie's advances in a swing framework, which provided a challenging yet ultimately perfect setting for the singer's luxurious baritone. So, considering what's to be missed, listeners shouldn't hesitate in checking out this Classics collection of Eckstine's 1944-1945 sides, especially since Savoy's chronicle of the same material is in dire need of an audio upgrade. Effortlessly ranging between ballads, blues, and swingers, Eckstine delivers both hit covers ("Prisoner of Love," "Cottage for Sale") and indelible originals ("I Want to Talk About You," "Blowin' the Blues Away"). And with the likes of Fats Navarro, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, and Art Blakey on hand -- not to mention Tadd Dameron and Budd Johnson handling the charts and a young Sarah Vaughan contributing vocals -- the high standards are maintained throughout. A perfect companion collection to both Classics' followup disc of 1946-1947 tracks and Xanadu's roundup of Eckstine sides form the first half of the '40s. Stephen Cook  
Tracklist + Credits : 

SARAH VAUGHAN – 1944-1946 | The Classics Chronological Series – 958 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This first installment in the complete chronological recordings of Sarah Vaughan is a gold mine of great jazz dating from turbulent and transitional times. It's also one of the very best Sarah Vaughan retrospectives ever made available to the public. Vaughan positively glows in front of every ensemble lucky enough to back her, as she performs in an almost bewildering series of outstanding recordings on the De Luxe, Continental, Guild, Crown, Gotham, H.R.S., and Musicraft labels. She appears as a 20-year-old featured with Billy Eckstine's Orchestra, then sitting in with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, with violinist Stuff Smith's Trio, and with the amazing John Kirby Sextet (here billed as his orchestra). She rubs shoulders with Trummy Young, Dicky Wells, Tony Scott, Ben Webster, Freddy Webster, Al Cohn, Serge Chaloff, Flip Phillips, Tadd Dameron, Bud Powell, Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Leo Parker, Georgie Auld, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Sid Catlett, Max Roach, and pianist Jimmy Jones, destined to accompany Vaughan intermittently until 1958. The jazz talent assembled on this one disc is nothing short of formidable. Sarah Vaughan began her recording career in the eye of the hurricane of jazz in New York during the mid-'40s. This incredible compilation documents exactly how she went about it. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist + Credits :

SARAH VAUGHAN – 1946-1947 | The Classics Chronological Series – 989 (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second installment in the Classics Sarah Vaughan chronology concentrates almost exclusively upon her Musicraft recordings made between July 1946 and November 1947. After hearing her in performance at the Three Deuces on 52nd Street, producer Albert Marx lost no time in drawing up a three-year contract between the singer and Musicraft. Backed by two different bands led by her soon-to-be husband, trumpeter George Treadwell, as well as by Teddy Wilson's Quartet and Octet, Vaughan makes each song into a miracle of elegance, style, and grace. The collective lineup of jazz players in this portion of her discography is stunning, with saxophonists Don Byas, Budd Johnson, Charlie Ventura and "Big Nick" Nicholas; trumpeters Buck Clayton and Emmett Berry; and drummer J.C. Heard, whose lifelong admiration for Vaughan dates back to these exquisite performances. The version of "Tenderly" she recorded on July 2, 1947, is said to have been the first recording ever made of this melody, which was composed by Musicraft's musical director, Walter Gross. (Charles Mingus liked to point out that "Tenderly" was closely based upon "September in the Rain," and demonstrated what he regarded as a case of plagiarism by performing something called "Septemberly" on his groundbreaking Debut album Mingus at the Bohemia.) This disc also documents Vaughan's excursion into less jazzy, more sugary pop-oriented circumstances. This was a path similar to that taken during the late '40s by her mentor, Billy Eckstine, and by Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday. Eckstine later explained that he opted for lucrative work as a pop singer for MGM rather than starving while leading a modern jazz band. Three of the Vaughan recordings included here, in fact, came out on the MGM label. At no point does she sound anything less than marvelous. Her "Lord's Prayer," originally issued on the flip side of an earthier "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," comes across beautifully. Ted Dale & His Orchestra, while espousing somewhat slick arrangements and instrumentation, retain some measure of hipness and integrity, which is more than can be said for certain other ensembles she sang with in late 1947 and early 1948. And let this all serve as a reminder that Sarah Vaughan could sing anything under any circumstances. That's why they call her "Divine." arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

SARAH VAUGHAN – 1947-1949 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1101 (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Classics #1101 captures Sarah Vaughan early in her career from 1947-1949. These Musicraft and early Columbia sessions paved the way for her future success as a leading jazz vocalists. Featuring 23 tracks, Vaughan is backed by orchestras led by Ted Dale, Richard Maltby, Joe Lippman, and Hugo Winterhalter, while also recording more jazz oriented material with the Jimmy Jones Quartet featuring Al Mckibbon on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums. While these combination string arrangements/jazz sessions only contain a handful of essentials ("Just Friends," "I Cried For You," "Nature Boy") they represent the beginning of that commercial balance Sarah Vaughan would successfully bounce back and forth between during her long career. Al Campbell
Tracklist + Credits :

SARAH VAUGHAN – 1949-1950 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1166 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This fourth installment in the Classics Sarah Vaughan chronology demonstrates her extraordinary versatility during the first stages of a fully blossoming artistic maturity. Four exquisite sides with the Joe Lipman Orchestra are followed by an MGM session in duet with crooner Billy Eckstine, backed by Lipman's Orchestra and strings. Given the fact that it was Eckstine who gave Vaughan her first break in showbiz, the pairing has a special charm. Aside from this MGM deviation, Vaughan was a Columbia recording artist during this time period. By far the best jazz on this disc was recorded on May 18 and 19, 1950, with accompaniment by pianist Jimmy Jones and his band. The front line of Miles Davis, Benny Golson, Budd Johnson, and Tony Scott, backed by the rhythm section of Jones, bassist Billy Taylor, J.C. Heard, and either Mundell Lowe or Freddie Green, matches the vocalist's every nuance to perfection. The combination of Miles Davis and Sarah Vaughan is a marvel not to be missed. There is some confusion between discographies regarding various brassy big band sides, as some tracks are credited both to the Norman Leyden Orchestra (with Bud Powell at the piano!) and to Mitch Miller & His Orchestra. Miller, of course, was no stranger to modern jazz, having also participated in some of Charlie Parker's With Strings sessions. Whoever actually headed the band, Sarah Vaughan's "Perdido" is delightful and invigorating. This interesting disc closes with a wild surprise in the form of "De Gas Pipe She's Leakin' Joe," a campy calypso spoof on the topic of suicide, so atypical of Sarah Vaughan that it could easily fool almost anyone in a blindfold test. The word again is "versatility." arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

SARAH VAUGHAN – 1951-1952 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1296 (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Aficionados of Classics' chronological series of compilations may be disheartened by this volume of Sarah Vaughan sides, taken from her early-'50s stint on Columbia. After years of perfection, listeners soon came to expect the best from Classics -- thorough compilations, faithful sound, and dozens of hot sides by some of the best jazz artists of the swing era. Unfortunately, while few female vocalists swung as righteously as Sarah Vaughan, there's no evidence of it here. The compilation includes two dozen sides, from the beginning of 1951 through the very end of 1952, at a time when Columbia was marketing her as a "serious" vocalist, neither jazz fire nor pop novelty but straight, trad balladry. Backed by large, string-filled orchestras (most led by Paul Weston or Percy Faith), Vaughan doesn't shine. Her voice, majestic and filled with drama, should be perfect in this setting, but the gauzy arrangements and often subpar material make a difficult task nearly impossible. Since Vaughan's delivery was usually direct, it was difficult for her to fight poor material and lackluster backing (unlike Billie Holiday, that notoriously excellent singer of bad material). She performs the opener, "Ave Maria," with operatic precision, and exercises her deep, low vibrato on "My Reverie," but shows little interest in anything more than straightforward readings. "Street of Dreams," one of the few songs here that outlasted the '50s, is one of the few bright spots amidst the gloom. John Bush  
Tracklist + Credits :

TEDDY WILSON – 1946 | The Classics Chronological Series – 997 (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For those who like to hear Teddy Wilson alone at the piano, working his pristine and gently swinging way around the keys, this Classics CD should be a wonderful find. The disc spotlights Wilson on several solo sides like "Cheek to Cheek," "All of Me," and his own "Sunny Morning." In addition to the solo material, there's a healthy chunk of combo recordings featuring trumpeter Buck Clayton and tenor saxophonists Don Byas and Charlie Ventura. And as a nice surprise, there are even a few cuts here with a young Sarah Vaughan at the microphone. A very enjoyable collection best suited to the Wilson faithful. Stephen Cook
Tracklist + Credits :

GEORGE AULD – 1945-1946 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1351 (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This second volume in the Classics Georgie Auld chronology presents all of his studio recordings made between May 24, 1945 and April 30, 1946. Auld's big band shared some stylistic qualities with Billy Eckstine's orchestra; both groups handled the innovations of bop with intelligence and creative precision. The first two tracks on this collection were originally issued on the Guild record label; the rest appeared on Musicraft. Georgie Auld, whose career at times paralleled that of Charlie Barnet, played soprano and alto in addition to his customary tenor saxophone; also like Barnet he was a capable vocalist. There are three examples of Auld's singing voice in this part of the chronology: he delivers a fine rendering of "I Don't Know Why" (once closely associated with Russ Columbo), a tidy take on "Route 66" that closely mimics the version recorded only six weeks earlier by Nat King Cole, and a boppish `big band update of "Honey," an attractive Richard Whiting melody dating from 1928. Nine tracks feature vocalist Lynne Stevens -- she is at her best on Ellington and Strayhorn's "Just A-Settin' and A-Rockin'" -- but the truly substantial element here is the band itself, a 17-piece ensemble working with arrangements penned by Budd Johnson, Tadd Dameron, Al Cohn, Franz Jackson and Neal Hefti. Auld also used Hugo Winterhalter's excellent arrangement of "Time on My Hands," apparently the same chart used by Count Basie in 1942. Note the presence of baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff alongside Cohn and Auld in the reeds; that's Joe Albany and Stan Levey in the rhythm section. The vocal highlight of the whole album is Sarah Vaughan's lovely interpretation of "100 Years from Today," a Victor Young melody with words by Ned Washington published in 1933. Georgie Auld had a really fine big band from 1943-1946, and led an exceptional group during the year 1949. His early-'50s recordings sometimes involve group vocals or lounge atmosphere; by 1955 and 1956 he fronted a group known as the Hollywood All Stars, using arrangements by Billy May. Most of his music is worth the effort it takes to chase it down and soak it up. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist + Credits :

GEORGE AULD – 1946-1951 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1371 (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Volume three in the Classics Georgie Auld chronology opens with the last four sides he cut for the Musicraft label on June 14, 1946. The 16-piece big band had Neal Hefti in the trumpet section, Auld, Al Cohn and Serge Chaloff in the reeds, and vocalist Sarah Vaughan featured on "You're Blasé." While Hefti's two original compositions are pleasantly modern sounding, the true gem from this date was Budd Johnson's rock-solid "Canyon Passage." Changes in the postwar entertainment industry resulted in the dissolution and dispersal of many big bands. Auld threw in the towel and waited about two-and-a-half years before resuming his recording career on January 17, 1949. His new band had ten pieces, including trombonist Billy Byers, pianist Jimmy Rowles and drummer Alvin Stoller. Eight sides cut for the Discovery record label on this date and on March 21 used mostly Hal Vernon arrangements; Byers scored the charts for "Hollywood Bazaar" and "Mild and Mellow." (For a 100-percent satisfying example of Auld leading a ten-piece band similar to this one, seek out You Got Me Jumpin' (Sounds of Yesteryear 6680), recorded live at the Empire in Hollywood, CA, 1949.) The next leg of the chronology consists of nine titles recorded for the Royal Roost record label on January 24, 1951 by the Georgie Auld Quintet, with trombonist Frank Rosolino, pianist Lou Levy, bassist Max Bennett and drummer Tiny Kahn, whose eccentric opus "Seh! Seh!" is group participation bop; the band shouts the song's title at regular intervals as part of the melodic line. This little-known session hatched a veritable goldmine of cruising cookers and luscious ballads; "Taps Miller" and "New Airmail Special" are particularly piquant. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist + Credits :

JOHN KIRBY AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1945-1946 | The Classics Chronological Series – 964 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The fourth and final Classics CD to reissue all of the studio recordings of the John Kirby Sextet features the band's very rare 1945-1946 performances, originally released by the Asch, Crown, Disc, and Apollo labels. The personnel of the classic unit had changed, with only the bassist/leader and clarinetist Buster Bailey still present on all of the numbers (although altoist Russell Procope and pianist Billy Kyle are on half the selections). Trumpeters Emmett Berry, Clarence Brererton, and George Taitt do their best to fill in for the departed Charlie Shavers; drummer Bill Beason was the late O'Neil Spencer's permanent replacement; other musicians making appearances include altoists George Johnson and Hilton Jefferson, tenor saxophonist Budd Johnson (who makes the sextet a septet on six songs), and pianists Ram Ramirez and Hank Jones. The young Sarah Vaughan is featured on four selections (including classic renditions of "You Go to My Head" and "It Might as Well Be Spring"), and the forgotten Shirley Moore takes two vocals. Although the group's sound had not changed and there are some colorful arrangements, Shavers' muted yet fiery trumpet was definitely missed. This valuable release is recommended after acquiring Kirby's first three Classics CDs. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

SARAH VAUGHAN - The Complete Songbooks (1957-2007) 9CD / APE / FLAC / lossless

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

 • George Gershwin Songbook 1 (1957-1990)

With the exception of three songs recorded earlier, this set dates from 1957 and finds the great Sarah Vaughan accompanied by her regular pianist Jimmy Jones plus a studio orchestra arranged by Hal Mooney. Since these 15 selections are fairly concise (two to five minutes apiece), the emphasis is on the melody and the original lyrics without all that much improvising taking place. Vaughan, who had a wondrous voice, is in excellent form on the superior material. by Scott Yanow

Tracklist:

1 Embraceable You 4:50
2 Aren't You Kinda Glad We Did 3:29
3 They All Laughed 2:25
4 Looking For A Boy 3:41
5 He Loves And She Loves 3:26
6 My Man's Gone Now 4:22
7 I Won't Say I Will 3:24
8 A Foggy Day 3:49
9 Let's Call The Whole Thing Off 2:25
10 Things Are Looking Up 3:35
11 Do It Again 3:15
12 Love Walked In 3:08
13 They Can't Take That Away From Me 2:41
Bass – Joe Benjamin
Drums – Roy Haynes
Piano – John Malachi
14 'S Wonderful 2:30
Accompanied By – The Hugo Peretti Orchestra
15 Soon 2:36
Accompanied By – The Ernie Wilkins Orchestra
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Hal Mooney (tracks: 1 to 12)
Music By, Lyrics By – A. Francis (tracks: 7), B. DeSylva (tracks: 7, 11), D. B. Heyward (tracks: 6), G. & I. Gershwin (tracks: 1 to 5, 8 to 10, 12 to 15), G. Gershwin (tracks: 6, 7, 11)
Piano – Jimmy Jones (tracks: 1 to 12)
Vocals – Sarah Vaughan
FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 • George Gershwin Songbook 2 (1957-1990)

As with the first volume of this two-CD series, the majority of the selections date from 1957 and feature Sarah Vaughan (backed by an anonymous studio orchestra with pianist Jimmy Jones arranged by Hal Mooney) doing straightforward and concise versions of George Gershwin classics. Vaughan, who is also heard on two other orchestral records (1955's "Maybe" and 1964's "Fascinatin' Rhythm") plus a rendition of "Embraceable You" with the Jimmy Jones Trio, is in typically expressive form. Highlights include "But Not For Me," "Someone To Watch Over Me," "The Man I Love," "I've Got A Crush On You" and "How Long Has This Been Going On."  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 But Not For Me 3:26
2 Isn't It A Pity 3:54
3 Of Thee I Sing 3:11
4 I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise 2:41
Written-By – A. Francis, B. DeSylva, G. Gershwin
5 Someone To Watch Over Me 4:00
6 Bidin' My Time 3:01
7 The Man I Love 3:37
8 How Long Has This Been Going On 4:00
9 My One And Only 3:15
10 Lorelei 2:33
11 I've Got A Crush On You 4:04
12 Summer Time 2:52
Written-By – D.B. Heyward, G. Gershwin
13 Fascinatin' Rhythm 2:36
Flute – Jerome Richardson
Percussion – Bobby Donaldson, Robert Rodriguez*, Jose Mangual, Juan Cadavieco, Rafael Sierra, William Correa
Piano – Bob James
Recorded By – Quincy Jones
Trombone – Benny Powell, Bill Byers, Kai Winding, Richard Hixon, Wayne Andre
Violin – Bernard Eichen, Charles Libove, David Nadien, Emanuel Green, Harry Lookovsky, Leo Kruczek, Louis Eley, Tosha Samaroff
14 Maybe 2:32
Orchestra – Ernie Wilkins Orchestra
15 Embraceable You 2:45
Bass – Richard Davis
Drums – Roy Haynes
Credits:
Arranged By [Studio Orchestra], Conductor [Studio Orchestra] – Hal Mooney (tracks: 1 to 12)
Piano – Jimmy Jones (tracks: 1 to 12, 15)
Written-By – G. & I. Gershwin (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 11, 13 to 15)
FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 • The Irving Berlin Songbook (1957-1984)

Sarah Vaughan's heavenly vocalizing and Billy Eckstine's velvety deep tone proved an ideal match during the late '40s and throughout the '50s. This 1957 Irving Berlin collection qualifies as the high point of that collaboration. Sometimes surpassing their splendid solo sides, Vaughan and Eckstine obviously revel in each other's company here, seamlessly blending their voices on most every track. Draped in Hal Mooney's fine and unobtrusive charts, the singers particularly shine on such well-tread Berlin fare as "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" and "Cheek to Cheek"; there are equally splendid readings of the rarely covered "Easter Parade" and "Now It Can Be Told" as well. A highlight from the land of vintage vocal jazz.  by Stephen Cook
Tracklist:
1 Alexander's Ragtime Band 4:05
2 Isn't This A Lovely Day 3:55
3 I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 4:16
4 All Of My Life 3:18
5 Cheek To Cheek 2:48
6 You're Just In Love 3:45
7 Remember 2:21
8 Always 2:40
9 Easter Parade 3:17
10 The Girl That I Marry 3:02
11 Now It Can Be Told 3:44
Credits:
Composed By – Irving Berlin
Conductor, Arranged By – Hal Mooney
Orchestra – Hal Mooney And His Orchestra
Vocals – Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan
FLAC (tracks), lossless

 • Sings The Mancini Songbook (1965-1998)

Tracklist:
1 How Soon? 2:41
Lyrics By – Al Stillman
2 Days Of Wine And Roses 2:38
Lyrics By – John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer
3 Dear Heart 2:53
Lyrics By – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
4 Charade 2:50
Lyrics By – Johnny Mercer
5 Too Little Time 3:47
Lyrics By – Don Raye
6 Dreamsville 3:49
Lyrics By – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
7 Peter Gunn 1:51
Lyrics By – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
8 Moon River 2:49
Lyrics By – Johnny Mercer
9 (I Love You) And Don't You Forget It 2:30
Lyrics By – Al Stillman
10 Slow Hot Wind 3:36
Lyrics By – Norman Gimbel
11 Mr. Lucky 2:27
Lyrics By – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
12 It Had Better Be Tonight 1:44
Lyrics By – Johnny Mercer
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor [Collectively] – Bill Holman, Billy Byers, Bob James, Frank Foster, Robert Fornon
Composed By – Henry Mancini
Producer – Quincy Jones
Vocals – Sarah Vaughan
APE (image+.cue), lossless

 • Duke Ellington Songbook 1 (1979 RM-1987)

Sarah Vaughan interprets ten Duke Ellington-associated songs on the first of two sets; Songbook, Vol. 2 was recorded at the same two sessions as this LP. Vaughan is accompanied by a variety of jazz all-stars, including trumpeter Waymon Reed, trombonist J.J. Johnson, and the tenors of Frank Foster, Frank Wess, and Zoot Sims. Bill Byers contributed the arrangements for the larger band performances. The emphasis is on ballads, with the highlights including "I'm Just a Lucky So and So," "I Didn't Know About You," "All Too Soon," and "Lush Life." Vaughan's voice is in typically wondrous form throughout. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 In A Sentimental Mood
2 I'm Just A Lucky So And So
3 Solitude
4 I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
5 I Didn't Know About You
6 All Too Soon
7 Lush Life
8 In A Mellow Tone
9 Sophisticated Lady
10 Day Dream
Credits:
Bass – Andrew Simpkins
Drums – Grady Tate
Guitar – Joe Pass
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Saxophone, Flute – Frank Wess
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims
Trombone – J.J. Johnson
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Waymon Reed
FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 • Duke Ellington Songbook 2 (RM-1980)

The second of two Pablo CDs featuring Sarah Vaughan interpreting Duke Ellington-associated material shows that the veteran singer never did decline. With assistance from trumpeter Waymon Reed, flutist Frank Wess, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson on alto and a surprise vocal, and several overlapping rhythm sections, Sassy sounds in top form throughout this date. Highlights include "I Ain't Got Nothing but the Blues," "Chelsea Bridge," "Rocks in My Bed," "I Got It Bad" and "Mood Indigo" but all 11 numbers are well worth hearing. Both of these well-conceived sets are easily recommended. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 I Ain't Got Nothin But The Blues
2 Black Butterfly
3 Chelsea Bridge
4 What Am I Here For
5 Tonight I Shall Sleep
6 Rocks In My Bed
7 i Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
8 Everything But You
9 Mood Indigo
10 It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
11 Prelude To A Kiss
Credits:
Bass – Andy Simpkins
Drums – Grady Tate
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 10), Joe Pass
Piano – Mike Wofford
Soloist, Alto Saxophone, Vocals – Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
Soloist, Flute – Frank Wess
Soloist, Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Waymon Reed
Written-By – Duke Ellington
FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 • The Rodgers & Heart Songbook (1958-1985)

Notice that this is yet another album with much higher user ratings than the AllMusic rating. I appreciate that the AllMusic reviewers have high standards, but 3 stars seems out of place here.
Many critics seem to treat the material from this orchestral songbook phase as less interesting Sarah Vaughan - perhaps because there is a lot of it, and jazz critics has a tendency to discount anything that has been done already, or forms a pattern in an artists recordings. That's a big mistake though. This songbook material from this phase (Rodgers and Hart, Ellington, Gershwin, etc.) is just an iconic set of recordings, something that, to me, defines jazz. This is classic jazz, something everyone should hear. Highly recommended... by Guy Cutting
Tracklist:
1 My Funny Valentine 2:56
Arranged By, Conductor – Richard Hayman
2 Little Girl Blue 3:51
Arranged By, Conductor – Hal Mooney
3 A Tree In The Park 2:40
Arranged By, Conductor – Hal Mooney
4 It's Got To Be Love 2:24
Arranged By, Conductor – Hal Mooney
5 A Ship Without A Sail 3:22
Arranged By, Conductor – Hal Mooney
6 Bewitched 3:29
Arranged By, Conductor – Hal Mooney
7 Thou Swell 2:47
Bass – Richard Davis 
Drums – Roy Haynes
Piano – Ronnell Bright
8 It Never Entered My Mind 4:08
Arranged By, Conductor – Hal Mooney
9 It's Easy To Remember 2:43
Arranged By, Conductor – Don Costa
10 Why Can't I 2:53
Alto Saxophone – Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Sam Marowitz
Arranged By, Conductor – Ernie Wilkins
Bass – Joe Benjamin
Drums – Roy Haynes
Guitar – Turk Van Lake
Piano – Jimmy Jones 
Reeds – Jerome Richardson
Trombone – J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding
Trumpet – Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal
11 My Romance 3:11
Arranged By, Conductor – Hal Mooney
12 My Heart Stood Still 3:09
Arranged By, Conductor – Hal Mooney
Credits:
Vocals – Sarah Vaughan
Written-By – Richard Rodgers And Lorenz Hart

FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 • The Great American Songbook (2007) 2CD

Tracklist 1:
1 They Can't Take That Away From Me 2:42
Written-By – G. & I. Gershwin
2 Body And Soul 3:12
Written-By – Heyman, Green, Sour
3 Polka Dots And Moonbeams 2:34
Written-By – Van Heusen, Burke
4 If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) 2:32
Written-By – Jurgens, Howard
5 Lover Man 3:17
Written-By – Davis, Sherman, Ramirez
6 I Cried For You 1:41
Written-By – Lyman, Freed, Arnheim
7 Prelude To A Kiss 2:46
Written-By – Ellington, Gordon, Mills
8 Deep Purple 3:09
Written-By – Parish, DeRose
9 Perdido 2:30
Written-By – Drake, Lenk, Tizol
10 Summertime 3:17
Written-By – DuBose Heyward, G. & I. Gershwin
11 Just Friends 3:02
Written-By – Klenner, Lewis
12 Thinking Of You 3:02
Written-By – Kalmar, Ruby
13 Ain't Misbehavin' 3:01
Written-By – Razaf, Waller, Brooks
14 Goodnight My Love 3:30
Written-By – Revel, Gordon
15 Can't Get Out Of This Mood 2:52
Written-By – Loesser, McHugh
16 I'll Know 3:18
Written-By – Loesser
17 Street Of Dreams 3:03
Written-By – Lewis, Young
18 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter 2:24
Written-By – Ahlert, Turk
19 Once In A While 3:06
Written-By – Green, Edwards
20 Trouble Is A Man 2:35
Written-By – Wilder
21 Everything I Have Is Yours 3:31
Written-By – Lane, Adamson
22 I Get A Kick Out Of You 3:06
Written-By – Porter
23 A Hundred Years From Today 2:57
Written-By – Washington, Young
24 It's Magic 3:14
Written-By – Styne, Cahn
25 It's You Or No One 3:14
Written-By – Styne, Cahn
Tracklist 2:
1 Give Me A Songs With A Beautiful Melody 2:43
Written-By – Styne, Cahn
2 Nice Work If You Can Get It 2:35
Written-By – G. & I. Gershwin
3 My Funny Valentine 3:02
Written-By – Hart, Rodgers
4 Come Rain Or Come Shine 3:25
Written-By – Arlen, Mercer
5 It's Easy To Remember 2:44
Written-By – Hart, Rodgers
6 Whatever Lola Wants 2:38
Written-By – Ross, Adler
7 Mr. Wonderful 2:49
Written-By – Weiss, Bock, Holofcener
8 Embraceable You 4:49
Written-By – G. & I. Gershwin
9 You Hit The Spot 3:02
Written-By – Revel, Gordon
10 April In Paris 6:21
Written-By – Harburg, Duke
11 It Might As Well Be Spring 3:15
Written-By – Hammerstein II, Rodgers
12 The Nearness Of You 3:21
Written-By – Carmichael, Washington
13 Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year 2:42
Written-By – Loesser
14 Come Along With Me 2:12
Written-By – Sample, Gimbell
15 East Of The Sun 3:10
Written-By – Bowman
16 My One And Only Love 2:50
Written-By – Wood, Mellin
17 September Song 5:45
Written-By – Weill, Anderson
18 He's My Guy 4:13
Written-By – Raye, DePaul
19 Black Coffee 3:18
Written-By – Webster, Burke
20 Tenderly 3:10
Written-By – Lawrence, Gross
21 Honey 2:21
Written-By – Gillespie, Whiting, Simons
22 Linger Awhile
Written-By – Owens, Rose
FLAC (image+.cue), lossless