CD Review: New Live Album From Resonance Records Reminds Us Of The Talented Sarah Vaughan

Jazz singer Sarah Vaughan is easily considered to have one of the most iconic voices in the genre. Her career lasted over 45 years, before her death in 1990. She is member of the Grammy Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Hall of Fame and she will be receiving a "Commemorative Forever Stamp" during a ceremony at the end of the month. On March 25th, Resonance Records will release a 2-CD, deluxe edition of her live performance at the famous Rosy's Jazz Club on May 31, 1978. This new release, "Live At Rosy's" features 90-minutes of previously unreleased music originally recorded for The National Public Radio (NPR) program "Jazz Alive!"

 

This new 22-song release showcases some of the best scat singing of Sarah Vaughan's career, beginning right from the opener, "I'll Remember April" as she makes every song her own. After introducing the band of Carl Schroeder on piano, Walter Booker on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums, Sarah becomes very playful with the song "East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)." When the music slows down for "Time After Time" is when you hear her angelic voice come alive. She does a quick, playful run through "A-Tisket A-Tasket," before arriving at her show-stopper "Send In The Clown," which became one her signature songs.

 

The second disc begins with the up-tempo, quick-pace of "The Man I Love," before mixing tempos between "If You Went Away" and "I Could Write A Book," which allows Vaughan more opportunity for iconic scat singing. The audience hangs on her every word as she settles into the beautiful "I Remember You" and "Everything Must Change." The set closes with Vaughan pulling out all the stops on the ballad "My Funny Valentine" as the band closes out the show with a short instrumental.

 

Also included in this new two-disc set is a 36-page, full-color booklet with new recollections from members of the band, plus author James Gavin. writer Will Friedwald and producer Zev Feldman. To find out more about this wonderful new release, "Sarah Vaughan - Live At Rosy's," please visit resonancerecords.org.