Search - Sarah Vaughan :: No Count Sarah

A Landmark Album

11/05/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Talk about a landmark album! What range! What sophistcation! What style! This album has everything you need. Look no further, this IS the best Sarah Vaughan album to date!"

AN IMPORT WELL WORTH THE WAIT!!

Giovanni | Chicago, IL | 08/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's an old saying that says "When the cat's away the mice shall play". I dont know about the mice, but Count Basie's cats and one "sassy" kitten had one swingin' time while the Count was absent during these 1958 sessions! Sarah is joined by the Basie organization on a handful of great tunes, old and new alike. Just where The Count was is uncertain, but never fear; WHOEVER led the band did their fearless leader right, for the charts here are smart, swingin' and flawless. From Marshall Royal's sax blasts the intro to "SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES", coaxing Sarah to improvise her way into the verse, traveling an octave or two along the way for a precursor to a great jazz-infused reading of this Jerome Kern classic. (An uncanny likeness to the great Lady Day can be heard in Sarah's great tag on the end of this song) "DOODLIN'", a long standing Basie band staple, has lyrics added and, unlike these last minute entries where mindless lyrics are hastily penned for such a project, the story behind this up until now instrumental really evokes a smile, and might even prove biographical to ANY lucky listener! Sarah's reading of "MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT" glides and swoops, and swings ever so slightly, and sounds fresh and exhilirating. Another improvisational delight can be found in the treatment of "STARDUST", which can never be removed from Nat King Cole's pocket as far as definitive versions go, but that's not Sarah and the band's intention. As always, Sarah gives the song her own spin, and the outcome (as always with Sarah) is phenomenal. The LP style case and original liner notes makes this smartly remastered Japanese import well worth the wait, in addition to the quality of music, despite the short list of tracks (only 9 songs!) I don't know where The Count was at during these sessions, as I mentioned earlier, but you can "count" on enjoying this great import for years to come!"