Search - Sarah Vaughan :: Live at Mister Kelly's (Reis) (Rstr) (Dig)

No Less Divine

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 10/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The previous listener is right about this being a drastically truncated version of the earlier domestic reissue, which represented an uncommon value (11 out-takes added to the 9 tracks of the original LP). Amazon is still advertising that generous 1991 edition, and at a lower price, so you may as well go for that first (I've ordered it just to satisfy my curiosity that it actually is the 20-track edition, which I thought was out of print). Nonetheless, even as an LP, this was one of the 3-4 essential recordings by an American diva, my favorite among Sarah's imposing discography.



The Divine One has never sounded more divine (her voice maintains the sassiness but at times takes on a faux operatic quality in the upper register after 1965). Sarah has no equal at reinventing a song's melody after the first chorus ("September in the Rain" and "Stairway to the Stars" are simply inspired--in the latter she makes a little "aria" out of the single word "build"!). Moreover, "Be Anything" (and, on the longer version, "I Cover the Waterfront," simply tear the listener's heart out. And she meets Ella head-on with a version of "How High the Moon" that, while less flashy and pyrotechnical, is more inventive. Yes, she does forget a few lyrics and knock over a mic during the set, but then divinity does have its privileges. If you believe it's possible to have too much of a good thing, you'll no doubt award this 9-track collection not 5 but five thousand stars."

More like DE-mastered.

Plasket | Pennsylvania | 09/20/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Well, now I know what the "Originals" banner on the spine means: the original LP, no extras, even if previous issues had any. In this case, the CD loses a whopping 11 tracks from a total of three nights at Mister Kelly's (including the night covered by the LP). After several excellent series of jam-packed reissues, why would Verve screw us like this?"