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