Sarah Vaughan - Anthology

In the 21st century, the jazz vocal field is full of upstart female vocalists who go out of their way to emulate the late Sarah Vaughan -- artists who feel that the best way to honor her memory is to try to sound exactly like her. The problem is that Sassy was truly irreplaceable; so instead of aspiring to be clones, the best thing jazz newcomers can do is search for their own voices. That isn't to say that they shouldn't be Vaughan-influenced -- only that they should work on developing their own identities -- and for newcomers, there is much to be learned from a fine collection like Anthology (especially when it comes to warmth, feeling, charisma and soulfulness). Spanning 1944-1963, this 23-song, 77-minute CD takes a look at Vaughan during a 19-year period -- and from "I'll Wait and Pray" in 1944 to a 1963 performance of Lionel Hampton's "Midnight Sun" (arranged by Gerald Wilson), she demonstrates just how compelling vocal jazz can be. The material is, for the most part, offered in chronological order, thus enabling one to hear the transition from scratchy 78-era sound to good '50s hi-fi mono to early stereo; one also hears some deepening in Vaughan's voice during those 19 years (although certainly not to the degree that her voice deepened in the '70s and '80s). But whatever the amount of deepness in her voice, Anthology never fails to illustrate the singer's originality; Vaughan is as distinctive on Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia" in 1944 and Juan Tizol's "Perdido" in 1950 as she is on Thelonious Monk's "Round Midnight" in 1963. Anthology is far from the last word on Vaughan in the '40s, '50s or early '60s; it is, however, a nicely assembled collection that paints a consistently attractive picture of Vaughan's first 19 years as a recording artist. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Sachs Clarinet Al Casey Guitar Al Gibson Sax (Alto), Clarinet Al Grey Trombone Al McKibbon Bass Al Porcino Trumpet Art Blakey Drums Athan Maroulis Compilation, Art Direction, Annotation, Producer, Liner Notes Barney Kessel Guitar Barry Galbraith Guitar Benny Carter Conductor, Arranger Benny Powell Trombone Big Nick Nicholas Sax (Tenor) Bill Beason Drums Bill Frazier Sax (Alto) Bill Hood Sax (Baritone) Billy Eckstine Director Billy Kyle Piano Billy Taylor, Sr. Bass Boonie Hazel Trumpet Buck Clayton Trumpet Budd Johnson Sax (Tenor) Buddy Collette Sax (Tenor) Buddy Morrow Trombone Buster Bailey Clarinet Carmell Jones Trumpet Charlie Fowlkes Sax (Baritone), Flute Chris Griffin Trumpet Chuck Wayne Guitar Clarence Brereton Trumpet Connie Wainwright Guitar Cozy Cole Drums Dexter Gordon Sax (Tenor) Dizzy Gillespie Trumpet Don Byas Sax (Tenor) Don Fagerquist Trumpet Earl Palmer Drums Eddie de Verteuill Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone) Eddie Jones Bass Eddie Kusby Trombone Ernie Freeman Combo Organ Eunah Lee Graphic Design Frank Carroll Bass Frank Foster Sax (Tenor) Frank Wess Sax (Alto), Flute, Sax (Tenor) Freddie Green Guitar Gail Brockman Trumpet Gene Ammons Sax (Tenor) George Duvivier Bass George Roberts Trombone George Treadwell Leader, Arranger, Trumpet Georgie Auld Sax (Tenor) Gerald Valentine Trombone Gerald Wilson Arranger, Conductor Hank Jones Piano Harry "Sweets" Edison Trumpet Henry Coker Trombone Hilton Jefferson Sax (Alto) Howard H. Scott Trombone J.C. Heard Drums Jack Lesberg Bass Jack Satterfield Trombone Jerry Sanfino Sax (Alto) Jimmy Abato Woodwind, Reeds Jimmy Jones Arranger, Celeste, Piano, Conductor Jimmy Maxwell Trumpet Jimmy Rowles Piano Jimmy Smith Guitar Joe Comfort Bass Joe Newman Quartet Trumpet John Fulton Reeds, Woodwind John Jackson Sax (Alto) John Kirby Bass John Malachi Piano Kirk Stuart Piano Larry Bunker Percussion Leo Parker Sax (Baritone) Leonard Feather Piano Lou Blackburn Trombone Marshall Royal Sax (Alto), Clarinet Miles Davis Trumpet Milt Turner Drums Mock Shopnick Bass Morey Feld Drums Mundell Lowe Guitar Nicholas Tagg Piano Norman Leyden Conductor, Arranger Paul Horn Sax (Alto) Peggy Logan Copy Editing Percy Brice Drums Plas Johnson Sax (Tenor) Red Callender Tuba Red Solomon Trumpet Remo Palmieri Guitar Richard Davis Bass Ronnell Bright Piano, Celeste Russell Banzer Reeds, Woodwind Russell Procope Sax (Alto) Sam Musiker Clarinet Sarah Vaughan Vocals Scoville Brown Sax (Alto) Shorty McConnell Trumpet Shorty Sherock Trumpet Snooky Young Trumpet Sonny Cohn Trumpet Sonny Payne Drums Stan Freeman Piano Taswell Baird Trombone Ted Dale Leader, Arranger Teddy Edwards Sax (Tenor) Terry Snyder Drums Thad Jones Trumpet Tommy Porter Bass Tommy Shepard Trombone Tony Mottola Guitar Tony Scott Clarinet Ulysses Livingston Guitar William Barker Drums