Search - Carmen McRae :: Sarah: Dedicated to You

BEST FINAL ALBUM EVER!

Jim Holtz | Madison, Wi United States | 07/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"IS THIS THE BEST FINAL ALBUM EVER RELEASED BY A 70 YEAR OLD JAZZ ARTIST OR WHAT? Ms. Carmen Mcrae in her tibute to buddy, Sarah Vaughan, knew what she was doing by having Shirley Horn back her her on piano. Together they gave us an unbeatable cd. It's very ironic a singer who was sometimes thought to have an "inferior" voice could sound this great at 70 years old! BUT SHE DID! Carmen's song selection really elevated this to great jazz art. Carmen didn't dare imitate Sarah's vast singing style. But, this tribute may have surpassed the orginal versions. Too many comapared Carmen to Billie, even Carmen. This is trajic because Carmen was so much better. She was more versatile. Mcrae could be trajic & fun. Billie made even Irving Berlin a downer. Actually Carmen Mcrae & Sarah Vaughan should have been the jazz front runners & Billie & Ella runners up. I just adore the opening track, POOR BUTTERFLY, with none of that overly produced orchestral effect just the great dramatist alone, Carmen Mcrae, doing what she did best, weaving a tale. Shirl, as Carmen called her in BLACK COFFEE joined in on the main body of POOR BUTTERFLY. It surpassed Sarah, no easy task. Their BLACK COFFEE was one of the great recordings of all time, a true refreshment! It's nice & leisurely. Horn's solo in the middle enchances that arrangement so, elevating it from 5 to 6 stars! Carmen's voice, both lyrical & dramactic, made this critic picture what it was like to be alone in her room smoking & drinking BLACK COFFEE! Being that every song was done in C.M.'s own style, would we all have known that it was a Vaughan tribute if not told? So many of these songs are done by all the jazz singers. I WILL SAY GOODBYE, of which I didn't know about until I got the 1st cd version, is a song to which I had to learn the lyrics. It's all about a overly obliging soon-to-be ex-lover. That song & LAMP IS LOW wasn't on the cassette or lp & WHY NOT? Just becasuse they weren't famous is no reason for such superaltive songs not to be on all versions! If you own the 1st cd edition of this, you must buy this Bluebird version. It has 4 bonus tracks necessary to give a more complete picture of Mcrae's admiration for Vaughan. SARAH, 1 of the 2 title songs & the only bonus track that was a repeat, was done a bit differently the 2nd time. Those of you who own one of the the orginal versions, sell it or give it away, & get this vast improvement on a masterpeice. All types of musical tastes have adored this underappreciated jazz songtress once I turned them on to her."

Homage at its best!!!

Joshua E. Hinkson Jr. | Mount Vernon, NY United States | 06/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The friendship between Sarah and Carmen is stuff of legend. So is this album. Not only is it a tribute to Sass but it is a swan song for Carmen as this was her last recording. From beginning to end the songs are chosen and arranged wonderfully by Carmen and Shirley Horn and her trio. The acapella intro of Poor Butterfly is superb and Carmen begins her tricks from the start bending phrase and playing with intonation something she shared in common with Sarah. Black Coffee, Send in the Clowns, and especially I Will Say Goodbye and It's Magic are wonderful interpretations from a mind that values pharsing and giving lyrics character. There is nothing transparent about this album it is all depth as was Carmen. A personal favorite and a jewel in Carmen's crown as one of the queens of Jazz!"

Fantastic stylist & great tribute

tim frostad | kent, wa | 01/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great album, not only do you get the fantastic interpretation's of Carmen but you get Shirley Horn's piano playing, a double treat. The standouts on this are, "The lamp is low" & "it's magic". You won't find it done any better by two of the best in the business."