ProJazz.net

Count Basie & Sarah Vaughan is a 1961 album by American jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, accompanied by the Count Basie Orchestra, with arrangements by Frank Foster, Thad Jones and Ernie Wilkins. The original LP was part of Roulette Records’ Birdland Series, “which takes its name from the world-renowned jazz nightclub,” according to the back cover notes.

Although Cоunt Bаѕіе gets tор billing, hе асtuаllу doesn’t even appear on this ѕеt. Bаѕіе’ѕ Orсhеѕtrа and pianist Kіrk Stuаrt аrе рurеlу in a supporting rоlе bеhіnd thе mаgnіfісеnt vоісе оf Sаrаh Vaughan, оthеr than a соuрlе оf short spots fоr trumреtеr Joe Nеwmаn аnd Frаnk Fоѕtеr’ѕ tenor. Sometimes Vаughаn ѕоundѕ оvеrlу mаnnеrеd аnd ѕееmѕ tо gіvе lіttlе wеіght tо the wоrdѕ ѕhе іѕ singing, but her wіdе rаngе аnd іmрессаblе muѕісіаnѕhір саrrу the dау. Hіghlіghtѕ іnсludе “Perdido,” “Mеаn tо Mе,” аnd “Yоu Go tо My Hеаd,” аnd the set is understandably recommended mоrе fоr Sаrаh Vаughаn fаnѕ thаn Cоunt Bаѕіе collectors. [Some rеіѕѕuеѕ аdd a раіr оf charming Vaughan duеtѕ with Joe Williams, “Tеасh Me Tоnіght” аnd “If I Wеrе a Bеll,” thаt wеrе оrіgіnаllу rеlеаѕеd аѕ a ѕіnglе, рluѕ an аltеrnаtе take of “Until I Mеt Yоu.”] (AllMuѕіс Rеvіеw bу Sсоtt Yanow, http://bit.ly/2FFvVmS).

Track listing:
“Perdido” (Ervin Drake, Hans J. Lengsfelder, Juan Tizol) – 2:12
“Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?)” (Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, James Sherman) – 3:59
“I Cried for You” (Gus Arnheim, Arthur Freed, Abe Lyman) – 2:56
“Alone” (Nacio Herb Brown, Freed) – 3:56
“There Are Such Things” (George W. Meyer, Stanley Adams, Abel Baer) – 3:12
“Mean to Me” (Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk) – 2:51
“The Gentleman Is a Dope” (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) – 2:46
“You Go to My Head” (J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) – 4:53
“Until I Met You” (Freddie Green, Don Wolf) – 3:10
“You Turned the Tables on Me” (Louis Alter, Sidney Mitchell) – 3:24
“Little Man (You’ve Had a Busy Day)” (Mabel Wayne, Al Hoffman, Maurice Sigler) – 4:53
1996 CD reissue bonus tracks not included on the original 1961 release:
“Teach Me Tonight” (Sammy Cahn, Gene de Paul, arr. Ernie Wilkins) (with Joe Williams) – 2:53
“If I Were a Bell” (Frank Loesser) (with Joe Williams) – 2:45
“Until I Met You” – 2:48

All tracks arranged by Thad Jones, except “Little Man (You’ve Had a Busy Day)” by Frank Foster and “Teach Me Tonight” by Ernie Wilkins.

Personnel:
Sarah Vaughan – vocal

The Count Basie Orchestra:
Sonny Cohn – trumpet
Joe Newman – trumpet, solo on “Mean to Me”
Snooky Young – trumpet
Thad Jones – trumpet, arranger
Henry Coker – trombone
Al Grey – trombone
Benny Powell – trombone
Marshal Royal – clarinet, alto saxophone
Frank Wess – flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Frank Foster – arranger, tenor saxophone
Billy Mitchell – tenor saxophone, solo on “I Cried for You”
Charlie Fowlkes – baritone saxophone
Freddie Green – guitar
Eddie Jones – double bass
Sonny Payne – drums
Kirk Stuart – piano
Joe Williams – vocal (12, 13)
Ernie Wilkins – arranger
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Released: 1961
Recorded: July 19, 1960, and January 10–13, 1961 in New York City, New York
Length: 46:43
Label: Roulette
Producer: Teddy Reig, Michael Cuscuna (reissue)