Sarah Vaughan - Plak

ENGLISH

This studio recording from 1954, a self-titled album recorded for EmArcy, was later reissued as Sarah Vaughan With Clifford Brown to denote the involvement of one of the top trumpeters of the day. Like a gifted actress, Sarah Vaughan always made the lyrics come alive, whether it be on poignant ballads or buoyant pop novelties. She combined exquisite elegance, impressive range, and an effortless delivery. Vaughan 'played' her voice with a musical creativity, as if it were a 'real' instrument, and on this album, she is matched with musicians of equally high quality. The band includes Brown on trumpet, Herbie Mann on flute, and Paul Quinichette on tenor, each of whom have plenty of space for solos (most of the songs are close to the five-minute mark). Vocally, the singer is arguably at the zenith of her career here, pausing and lingering over notes on the standards 'April In Paris', 'Jim', and 'Lullaby Of Birdland'. As touching as she is, however, Brown almost equals her with his solos, displaying his incredible bop virtuosity in a restrained setting without sacrificing either the simple feeling of his notes or the extraordinary flair of his choices. Quinichette's solos are also magnificent, his feathery tone nearly a perfect match for Vaughan's voice. Ironically, neither Brown, Quinichette nor Mann appear on the album's highlight, 'Embraceable You', which Vaughan performs with close accompaniment from the rhythm section. She expertly captured the mood of any tune, and on this album, one of her jazziest, the soloists seem keenly aware of her presence.

In whichever incarnation it's reissued, Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown is one of the most important jazz-meets-vocal sessions ever recorded.

Recording: December 1954