Personnel includes: Sarah Vaughan (vocals), Sid Cooper, Herman Shertzer (saxophones), Melven Solomon, James Maxwell, John Milozzo (trumpets), Will Bradley, Jack Satterfield, Art Godlis (trombones), Leo Kruczek, Samuel Rand, Felix Orlewitz (violins), Solomon Deutch, Ralph Hersh (violas), George Ricci (cello), Meyer Rosen (harp), Jimmy Jones, Lou Stern (piano), Al Caiola, Mundell Lowe, Art Ryerson (guitar), Jack Lesberg, Frank Carroll (bass), Norris Shawker, Terry Snyder (drums).
Compilation producer: Didier C. Deutsch.
Recorded between 1949 and 1953. Includes liner notes by Didier C. Deutsch.
Digitally remastered by Chris Herles (Sony Music Studios).
Personnel: Sarah Vaughan (vocals); Mundell Lowe (guitar, electric guitar); Art Ryerson, Al Caiola (guitar); Meyer Rosen (harp); Frederick Buldrini, Leo Kruczek, George Ockner, Julius Schachter, Samuel Carmell, Jacques Margolies, Paul Winter , David Asch, Felix Orlewitz, Sylvan Shulman, Zelly Smirnoff, Alan Pratz, Howard Kay, Jack Zyde, Milton Lomask, Samuel Rand, Raoul Poliakin, Gene Orloff, Emanuel Green (violin); Solomon Deutsch (viola, cello); Herman Shertzer, Irving Horowitz, Sid Cooper (viola, saxophone); Ralph Hersh, Richard Dickler, Sidney Brecher, Isadore Zir (viola); Bernard Greenhouse, Raoul Sims, Maurice Brown , George Ricci (cello); Tony Scott (clarinet); Paul Ricci, Henry Ross, Harry Terrill, Russell Banzer, Al Kloves, Al Freistadt, Art Drelinger, Jack Aldridge, Nuncio Mondello, William Versaci, Bernard Kaufman, Jimmy Abato, Wolfe Taninbaum, Harold Feldman (saxophone); Budd Johnson (tenor saxophone); Gordon Griffin, Andrew Ferretti, James Maxwell, Melvin "Red" Solomon, Bob Cusmano, Peter Cincillo, Jimmy Carroll, Miles Davis, Bernie Privin (trumpet); Arthur Godlis, Roland Dupont, John d'Agostino, Larry Alpeter, Jack Satterfield, Will Bradley, Bennie Green , Buddy Morrow (trombone); Lou Stern, Henry Rowland, Jack Lesberg, Jimmy Jones , Stan Freeman, Bud Powell (piano); Norris Shawker, J.C. Heard, Phil Kraus, Terry Snyder (drums).
Liner Note Author: Didier C. Deutsch.
Recording information: 01/25/1949-01/05/1953.
Arrangers: Joe Lipman; Percy Faith; Norman Leyden.
Certainly at the essence of Sarah Vaughan are symphonic torch songs, and Columbia Records documented that aspect of her career quite well. If that's all you know, or desire, this collection of 12 cuts nicely reflects that part of her. Unfortunately, there are many previous recordings for the Mercury/EmArcy companies, and latter efforts for the Pablo label that show her in a broader stance as a singer and swinger. Undoubtedly, "Say You'll Wait for Me," "That Lucky Old Sun," and "East of the Sun" rank with her very best, but any collection without "Midnight Sun" or "I Loves You Porgy" has to fall short of being definitive. This single CD is a fair-to-middling demonstration of her much larger discography compiled from one glorious career. ~ Michael G. Nastos minimize