Search - Sarah Vaughan :: Sarah for Lovers

"Sarah for Lovers" delivers what it promises--ballads, not j

Mary Whipple | New England | 06/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Part of Verve's "for Lovers" series, which also includes John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, and Billie Holiday "for Lovers," this compilation of Sarah Vaughan recordings comes from albums recorded between 1954, with six tracks represented, and 1967, with one track, the great "Happiness is a Thing Called Joe." With her rich voice, enormous range, and relaxed style, she sings a romantic, all-ballad program with a variety of orchestras and some of the greats of jazz.



No one who hears Vaughan here will be disappointed, if they are expecting a CD exuding romance for quiet moments. She keeps her power hidden, for the most part, usually singing her songs "straight," accompanied by many strings, a harp (on two tracks), and big orchestras. Her forays into improvisation are limited, and though she does take some liberties with the melodic line, the tempo, and her phrasing on some tracks, she is conservative here, her enormous jazz talent in improvisation and scat kept repressed. Verve's Ken Drucker has selected and sequenced this CD, and while it meets the definition of "Sarah for Lovers" in spades (!), it is not Sarah Vaughan as jazz fans love and remember her.



Several songs on this CD are unusual--"I'll Close my Eyes," with the Quincy Jones Orchestra, "Words Can't Describe" with the great Jimmy Jones on piano, and "Dreamsville," a Henry Mancini song, which she recorded in 1964. Both of the songs recorded with the Quincy Jones Orchestra--"I'll Close My Eyes" and "Make Someone Happy"--have an "echo-y" sound, and "That's All" has a wonderful sax solo by Zoot Sims.



"I'm Glad There Was You," from "Sarah Vaughan," a Verve recording previously released as "Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown," is the standout of the CD, with Brown keeping his trumpet muted as both he and Vaughan play with tempo and melody and interpret the lyrics. Another beauty is "Embraceable You," which emphasizes Vaughan's range and variations on tempo and phrasing, and in which Jimmy Jones has a terrific, long piano solo.



"Sarah for Lovers" is exactly what it says it is--a collection of slow ballads by one of the jazz greats of the past century. Those who may be looking for one of Vaughan's terrific jazz recordings, rather than ballads, may want to look at "Crazy and Mixed Up" (ASIN: B000000XLS)--in my opinion, her most interesting album. n Mary Whipple

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A Big Christmas Hit

Femmelove | New York, NY | 01/11/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD was a big hit with my girlfriend who loves Sarah Vaughn. Her voice is great to listen to when you want to relax, or when you want to dance in the middle of the living room with your special someone. I'd like to get some of her other collections now, not just love songs."