Search Manic Mark's Blog

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

No Count Sarah - Sarah Vaughan

 

Moonlight In Vermont

No Count Sarah
High Custom Fidelity
Mercury Records MG 20441
1959

Personnel:

Trumpet: Wendell Cutty, Thad Jones, Eugene Young and Joe Newman
Trombone: Henry Coker, Al Grey and Benny Powell
Saxophone: Frank Wess, Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell, Charley Fowlkes and Marshall Royal
Guitar: Freddy Green
Bass: Richard Davis
Drums: Sonny Payne
Piano: Ronnell Bright

From the back cover: The "Kid from Red Bank" is not on this session, thus the title: "No Count Sarah."

But there's the incongruity, for to a square, it might seem "No Count Sarah." But, just listen to the opening 30 seconds on "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," when "Sass" drifts in after the Marshall Royal opening, wailing like a low-register trombone, and you know it's Vaughan that counts.

Sarah has hit peaks, just like any other great sports, theatrical or cinema personality. She did it on previous Mercury albums (Sarah Vaughan in The Land Of Hi-Fi and Sarah Vaughan After Hours At The London House). These were peak recording sessions by la Vaughan.

But the Divine One tops all singers, male and female, on this session!

Never has she been so uninhibited. Well, maybe once years ago she almost approached this peak. It was about 14 years ago when she was just new, the girl singer with progressive jazz Billy Eckstine crew. The Bird, Did, Wardell Gray, Art Blakey, the late Fats Narvarro and a crew 10 years ahead of itself worked behind her.

But this is the Count-less crew. Another band years ahead. And Sarah's inspired. She does things not yet done vocally. Her range makes Yma Sumac sound like a third-grade soprano. And there's loads of humor and satire. It's the kind of album that reminds you of an old Groucho Marx motion picture. The kind you had to hear three or four times to get all the punch lines!

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Doodlin'
Darn That Dream
Just One Of Those Things
Moonlight In Vermont
No 'Count Blues
Cheek To Cheek
Stardust
Missing You

No comments:

Post a Comment

Howdy! Thanks for leaving your thoughts!