Customer Reviews

Gershwin Live

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Never before, and never since, has a singer been blessed with a voice as flexible and capable as that of the late Sarah Vaughan. In addition, she was a first-rate musician (she had perfect pitch, was an accomplished pianist, and was an incomparable interpreter of music). This CD is her last regular, full-length album, and it is certainly one of the best, I'm sure. This is a live performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the night is magical.

At this point in her career, Sarah's voice had matured and deepened into a super-contralto that could still effortlessly scale the heights of a soprano. And she does. On all of these Gershwin tunes, she takes the songs to places they've never been. "The Man I Love" is triumphant in every since, especially its absolutely stunning scat section. I listen to it over and over again! Once you hear Sarah sing "Someone to Watch Over Me," you'll never want to hear anyone else sing it again. It can't be any better. There are so many other fantastic moments on this album, and there are absolutely no clunkers on this set. NONE! This woman deserved more recognition than she got, even though she was the recipient of many awards. She was undeniably better than the late Ella Fitzgerald, who wasn't too bad herself! In fact, Ella considered Sarah the best jazz singer in the world! I think that says it all!

Buy this album if for no other reason than to hear some of the last recorded work of a great and legendary artist who was taken away from us before her time. You will not regret it.

In this collaboration between Sarah Vaughan and MichaelTilson-Thomas---both accomplished Gershwin interpreters---it's clearthat they are both enjoying the experience immensely (look at the expressions of delight on their faces in both cover-art photos). Tilson-Thomas accompanies her on the piano on three numbers, and those performances are energetic and inspired. On the other tracks, hearing her voice backed by a full orchestra is really cool --- she sounds wonderful against an orchestra. The arrangements and orchestrations on this album, particularly the three medlies, are original and inspired. She used them in her live performances for years to come. Her interpretation of "Someone to Watch Over Me" at the end of track 2 is slow, rich, gorgeous, and memorable. In short, it's a great album: she's in great voice, singing great music with great backing, and everybody enjoys the experience. A reviewer mentions that she talks but does not sing on the album. I don't understand this criticism: I just listened to the whole album, and the only speaking she does is to say "thank you" between tracks. No problem.

This is a recording of a live Hollywood Bowl concert from the mid-80's, with Michael Tilson-Thomas conducting the LAPO.

It's obviously a labor of love for both of them---Tilson-Thomas has recorded his share of Gershwin, and the arrangements and orchestrations were new and bold, and fit her voice beautifully---she used the same arrangements for *years* in her live concerts, but they never sounded as good as with the full orchestra backing her. The collaboration is at its best on "Sweet and Low Down," where Tilson-Thomas accompanies her, and they're both totally delighted by the performance (you will be too).

So buy this CD for three reasons: two lovers of Gershwin in a great collaboration, Sarah Vaughan's voice backed by a great orchestra, and exceptional arrangements and orchestrations (the medleys are really brilliant). Oh, and one more reason: the rendition of "Someone to Watch Over Me" is a total killer---very slow, very thoughtful, extremely moving.

I couldn't agree more with the other reviewers that this is a pleasure to listen to and I do very very often. Her last recordings seem to have a special something to them (also try Brazilian Romance CD produced by Sergio Mendes) that not only shows that maturity but the insitefullness that someone of her experience has. This is a classic and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Too bad this is one of the last recordings availible of Ms. Vaughan live. I really enjoyed her melodically enchanting interpretation of these Broadway-turned-Jazz-standard tunes. The conductor, thankfully, allowed the divinely sassy songstress to do what she does best: weave complicated melodies into a marvelous composition. I was enamored by the medleys! Good stuff!

Move over Ella. You may have done all the songbooks, but you can't match the range of Ms Vaughan. Ella Fitzgerald sang many of the songs from Porgy and Bess with Mr Louis Armstrong on the Verve lable, but really, I shouldn't advertize that considering it was the greatest misstep Ella ever took. Ms Vaughan however sings these selections (orchestrated by Michael Tilson-Thomas, another Gershwin authority, if I do say so myself) with such ease that at moments you forget (in a good way) that you are listening to songs written for the Opera. Now, I must qualify that by saying that Kathleen Battle sings this opera better than anyone, but when I'm not in the mood for opera, this is splendid. Ms. Vaughan's voice has such a rich, dark color that one does not imagine her to be capable of the range she possesses. With her first Medley, incorporating Summertime" with "It Ain't Necessarily So," and "I Loves You, Porgy," she takes liberties with the music that don't disrespect the original material. The lush orchestrations surrounding her voice bring on the feeling that a glass of ice tea on the porch should be sufficient with the 1940s radio gently humming the gorgeous music. She moves into the more musical theatre part of Gershwin with her second Medley on the album. She is having a great time with this, letting her jazz and blues roots show. Her "Someone to Watch Over Me" could choke you up a bit, and it catches you by surprise! The real treasure however on this album is the way in which she defines "My Man's Gone Now" for jazz, that is. (the cast of 1990 with Shirley Baines is by far the best representation of Gershwin's Masterpiece; and "My Man's Gone Now" is eerily spine-tingling!) Ms Vaughan has done such a great job with this song that by the end, with all of it's grandeur, you may be exhausted by the epic interpretation (not that the original was not epic, for it surely was). This album is great for jazz afficionados, as well as those who are into Gershwin or any classical music, but it may be a bit over the head of someone trying to get into Jazz. Regardless, this should be a staple of any jazz or classical collection.

This is likely the best recording of Sarah particularly in her later years. For those of us that love those lower tones and brilliant mature interpretations, it is sheer bliss.That bombastic voice with wonderful full orchestra is a genius blend of two musical schools.I don't think I'll ever hear anyones elses voice again when I here I loves ya Porgy. Like another reviewer I am at a complete loss as to the comment about Sarah chatting too much. They must have a different recording than the one I have. Also the Amazon suggestion to buy this with Crazy and Mixed Up was a great idea. That same wonderful voice in a small intimate setting was almost like being there.Two great and different sides of Sarah, sheer ambrosia!

It begins like a hot sultry summer night. You can see Catfish Row when Sarah begins "Summertime." Although I love Nina Simone's version of "I Love You, Porgy", it is surely Sarah's that is the more haunting version. Sarah's voice at this time is fabulous. She is fulfilled and matured. There are the nuances of life lived, hard and soft. There is a special moment when Sarah is asking for suggestions for an encore and a fan screams out: "Perdido." "Not tonight, honey laughs Sarah, but bless you anyway, you must be an old fan." Such is the love also inherent in Sarah's rendering of "It Never Entered My Mind."
What a voice, and sadly, what a loss to all music lovers of the world. We miss you Sassy!

To listen to this album is to understand 20th century American music at it's most electrifying and sophisticated. Thomas and Vaughan make you want to laugh, cry, fall in love, march and cheer, and all in under 2 hours. Gershwin has surely never been better interpreted. Listening to this well heeled live audience cheer, I don't mean the sound of a live tv studio audience greeting the latest 20 something nonentity onto the letterman show, but cheering, sort of like the sound you hear on recordings of ocean liners docking in NYC after the war, loaded with returning soldiers.......that sound; joy and pride; pride in being a member of a culture that can create something so brilliant and inspiring as what these artists did on stage. Buy this CD,save the receipt, and if you don't love it, and don't want to save it for your unborn grandkids, to show them where they came from, send me the receipt and i will have you put away somewhere.

I first came to know that Sarah Vaughan & MTT had recorded any Gershwin from one track on as an add on to a MTT Gershwin disc. I searched in the UK to no avail but found the whole disc on Amazon.com. What a joy to hear someone practising the art of cool - an almost a redundant concept in a market that is flooded with anything but cool.The performances are par excellence there is no comparison - this is on it's own and out there. So put on your Tux, look up your best bad sophisticated friends and be cool.Buy this disc at all cost