Saturday 30 January 2016

Sarah + 2 – SARAH VAUGHAN****

Just In Time/When Sunny Gets Blue/All I Do Is Dream Of You/I Understand/Goodnight Sweetheart/Baby Won’t You Please Come Home/When Lights Are Low/Key Largo/Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don’t Tease Me)/All Or Nothing At All/The Very Thought Of You

Sarah + 2 comprises an album of slow ballads backed up by bass and electric guitar, a musical accompaniment that is purposely understated to showcase Sarah Vaughan’s vocals.

“Vaughan is in extremely fine voice. Her control and restraint create an intoxicating and sophisticated atmosphere. The interplay between the singer and her musicians is masterful."

“Those who throughout the years have denied Sarah the cachet of a true jazz singer are in for a surprise with this LP. Those who have also said that Sarah couldn't interpret lyrics are also in for a surprise. Daring, startling, innovative, creative, are just a few of the words that come to mind, given the risk it represents for a jazz singer to cut an album with bass and electric guitar only. However, the format works wonders by giving her a minimal support that showcases her fireworks.”

“This is Sarah at the peak of her career and voice, singing jazz tunes with sensitive accompaniment. I get a little misty every time I listen to this.”

“Comprising mostly standards in which Vaughan's phrasing gives new meanings to the lyrics, this LP is a thrilling opportunity to study her rich voice. The bass and the guitar are barely there, adding just enough beat to keep the songs interesting and just enough musical variation to suggest new harmonies. The songs, almost entirely slow ballads, are clearly in Vaughan's style, though they lack the flights of jazzy innovation and improvisation for which she was famous later in her career.”

“A stunning intimate experience. This magnificent voice is never heard to better effect than here. The arrangements are short and sweet, generally from sad and slow to soft and swinging. Everything is done in the very best of taste.”

“Rightly considered another intimate gem in Sarah's discography. Sarah + 2 gives Vaughan another chance to show the splendour and richness of her musical persona, without excesses and overdoing anything, she delivers.”

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