Sarah Vaughan’s 1954 album with Clifford Brown is rightly considered one of her best early recordings, and has been reissued many times. Although she had yet to realise her full vocal effects and cadences, her partnership with Brown (who did not attempt to upstage her) was a meeting of minds and talents.
With the support of what was to become one of her regular rhythm sections, and the instrumental fluency of Paul Quinichette and Herbie Mann, she delivered relaxed but well-crafted performances of (mostly) superior material – including a jaunty and partly scat version of Lullaby Of Birdland, a superbly emotional April In Paris – with excellent solos from Jimmy Jones, Quinichette and Brown. September Song features tenor and flute and Sassy’s incomparable voice in telepathic harmony.
This welcome reissue is paired with another remarkable studio recording – Sarah Vaughan In The Land Of Hi-Fi. Cannonball Adderley fronts a larger aggregation than the Clifford Brown ensemble including such stalwarts as J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Ernie Royal and Jerome Richardson. Again, Sarah adapts each melody to her unique style, with high notes almost entering the stratosphere.
Under Ernie Wilkins’ direction, the orchestra swings mightily, with Cannonball producing dazzling solos and succinct contributions from the two stellar trombonists and Jerome Richardson. As on the Brown session, the same rhythm section provides well-oiled support throughout. I’ll Never Smile Again and How High The Moon are the highlights of an enjoyable date. Sarah almost merits the later appellation “The Divine One” – only fully realised when she made a series of star-studded recordings for the Pablo label in the late 1970s and early 80s.
Discography
September Song; Lullaby Of Birdland; I’m Glad There Is You; You’re Not The Kind; Jim; He’s My Guy; April In Paris; It’s Crazy; Embraceable You; (2) Over The Rainbow; Soon; Cherokee; I’ll Never Smile Again; Don’t Be On The Outside; How High The Moon; It Shouldn’t Happen To A Dream; Sometimes I’m Happy; Maybe; An Occasional Man; Why Can’t I; Oh My Baby (79.36)
Vaughan (v) on all tracks with:
(1) Clifford Brown (t); Herbie Mann (f); Paul Quinichette (ts); Jimmy Jones (p); Joe Benjamin (b); Roy Haynes (d); Ernie Wilkins (arr, cond). New York, 16-18 December, 1954.
(2) Cannonball Adderley, Sam Marowitz (as); Ernie Royal, Bernie Glow (t); J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding (tb); Jerome Richardson (f, ts); Turk Van Lake (g); Jones (p); Benjamin (b); Haynes (d); Wilkins (arr, cond). New York, 25-27 October, 1955.
Poll Winners Records PWR 27224
