Sarah Vaughan - Compact Jazz: Sarah Vaughan

The Compact Jazz budget series offers jazz newcomers an ideal way to sample some of best material from the post-bop years. The vocal titles are especially impressive, with nicely selected discs featuring Anita O'Day, Helen Merrill, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, and Arthur Prysock. The Divine One, Sarah Vaughan, is appropriately given the best of the lot: a 16-track edition that focuses on her early prime stretch of 1954-1958, taking in a glorious mix of full-band cuts and combo sides. Bookended by two numbers from her stellar and boppish 1954 date with Clifford Brown ("Lullaby of Birdland," "Embraceable You"), the collection includes several glowing strings sides that feature the charts of Hal Mooney and Quincy Jones, as well as handful of more swinging cuts with bands led by Count Basie, Ernie Wilkins, and J.J. Johnson; the collective lineup of these last three outfits includes the cream of the day's hard bop talent. Topped off with two trio pieces featuring pianist John Malachi, bassist Joe Benjamin, and drummer Roy Haynes, Vaughan's Compact Jazz disc is the perfect way to get familiar with the singer's many charms and incredible vocal range. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Grey Trombone Benny Golson Sax (Tenor) Benny Powell Trombone Bernie Glow Trumpet Billy Mitchell Sax (Tenor) Bob James Piano Bob Shad Producer Cannonball Adderley Sax (Alto) Charlie Fowlkes Sax (Baritone), Baritone Charlie Shavers Trumpet Clark Terry Trumpet Clifford Brown Trumpet Dennis Drake Digital Remastering, Remastering Ernie Royal Trumpet Ernie Wilkins Arranger, Director Frank Foster Sax (Tenor) Frank Wess Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Flute, Flugelhorn Freddie Green Guitar Freddie Hubbard Trumpet Henry Coker ?, Trombone Herbie Mann Flute, Vocals J.J. Johnson Trombone James Isaacs Liner Notes, Sequencing Jerome Richardson Sax (Tenor), Flugelhorn, Flute Jimmy Jones Piano Jo Hrasko Saxophone Joe Benjamin Bass Joe Newman Trumpet John Malachi Piano Kai Winding Trombone Kenny Clarke Drums, Strings Marcel Hrasko Saxophone Mark Wilder Digital Remastering, Remastering Marshall Royal Clarinet, Sax (Alto) Michael A. Hauser Vibraphone Paul Quinichette Sax (Tenor) Phil Woods Sax (Alto) Pierre Cullaz Guitar Quincy Jones Producer, Vocals Richard Davis Bass Richard Seidel Selection Ronnell Bright Piano Roy Haynes Drums Sam Marowitz Sax (Alto) Sarah Vaughan Vocals Snooky Young Trumpet Sonny Payne Drums Thad Jones Conductor, Trumpet, Arranger Turk VanLake Guitar William Boucaya Saxophone Zoot Sims Saxophone