Complete: Live in Japan
Artist: Sarah Vaughan

This two-CD set contains all of the music that Sarah Vaughan recorded during her Tokyo concert for Mainstream. The 49-year-old singer is heard at the height of her powers, really digging into the standards and making magic out of such numbers as "Poor," "'Round Midnight," "Willow Weep," "My Funny Valentine," "Summertime," and "Bye Bye... Read More

The Complete Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald was at the peak of her form during her 1960 tour of Europe. Her Berlin concert is most remembered for her hilariously inventive version of "Mack the Knife," during which she forgot the words and substituted ones of her own that somehow fit, amazing herself in the process. In addition to the original LP program, this CD has two... Read More

The Complete Sarah Vaughan on Mercury, Vol. 4, Pts. 1 and 2: (1963-1967)
Artist: Sarah Vaughan

The fourth of four box sets reissuing every recording Sarah Vaughan made for the Mercury and EmArcy labels (including many previously unreleased performances) starts off (after four orchestra tracks) with its strongest selections, no less than 32 songs recorded during a live four-day engagement in Copenhagen during which the singer is... Read More

Me and the Blues
Artist: Joe Williams
A Swingin' Night at Birdland
Artist: Joe Williams

In 1961, after six years as one of the main attractions of Count Basie's orchestra, Williams (with Basie's blessing) went out on his own. One of his first sessions was this live recording, cut at Birdland with a strong quintet that featured trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison and Jimmy Forrest on tenor. Williams mostly sings standards and ballads,... Read More

The Overwhelmin'
Artist: Joe Williams

A CD sampler taken from five former LPs, this fine CD features Joe Williams doing three songs from Duke Ellington's play Jump for Joy, five numbers at the 1963 Newport Jazz Festival (during which he is joined by trumpeters Clark Terry and Howard McGhee, and tenor greats Coleman Hawkins, Zoot Sims, and Ben Webster), four blues numbers backed by... Read More

Jump for Joy
Artist: Joe Williams

Here the classic singer is backed by a big band (and in some cases a smaller group from the orchestra) arranged by Oliver Nelson and Jimmy Jones. Doing his best to escape from the stereotype of being strictly a blues singer, Williams performs both superior standards and obscurities on the spirited LP. Highlights include "Wrap Your Troubles in... Read More

Sassy Swings the Tivoli
Artist: Sarah Vaughan

After four years on Roulette, Sarah Vaughan returned to Mercury (her main label of the 1950s) with this wonderful live session, one of her very best of the 1960s. Joined by her rhythm section of the period (pianist Kirk Stuart, bassist Charles Williams and drummer Georges Hughes), Vaughan is quite expressive on such signature tunes as "Misty,"... Read More

Sarah Sings Soulfully
Artist: Sarah Vaughan

Sarah Vaughan's final Roulette session before going back to Mercury was one of her best. Some of the tunes (such as "A Taste of Honey," "What Kind of Fool Am I" and "The Good Life") do not look all that promising but Sassy was near the peak of her powers during this era. Plus her renditions of "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears out to Dry,"... Read More

How Long Has This Been Going On?
Artist: Sarah Vaughan

This CD reissue features the great Sarah Vaughan in a typically spontaneous Norman Granz Pablo production with pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Louie Bellson. Sassy sounds wonderful stretching out on such songs as "Midnight Sun," "More than You Know," "Teach Me Tonight" and "Body and Soul" among others.... Read More

The George Gershwin Songbook, Vol. 2
Artist: Sarah Vaughan

As with the first volume of this two-CD series, the majority of the selections date from 1957 and feature Sarah Vaughan (backed by an anonymous studio orchestra with pianist Jimmy Jones arranged by Hal Mooney) doing straightforward and concise versions of George Gershwin classics. Vaughan, who is also heard on two other orchestral records... Read More

The Duke Ellington Songbook, Vol. 2
Artist: Sarah Vaughan

The second of two Pablo CDs featuring Sarah Vaughan interpreting Duke Ellington-associated material shows that the veteran singer never did decline. With assistance from trumpeter Waymon Reed, flutist Frank Wess, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson on alto and a surprise vocal, and several overlapping rhythm sections, Sassy sounds in top form throughout... Read More

Crazy and Mixed Up
Artist: Sarah Vaughan

Sarah Vaughan had complete control over the production of this album (which would be her last small-group recording) and, even if the results are not all that unique, her voice is often in near-miraculous form. With fine backup work from pianist Roland Hanna, guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Harold Jones, Sassy sounds in... Read More

Live - JUST JAZZ
Artist: Irene Kral

Recorded just 11 months before her death, this live set (released for the first time on this 1995 CD) is practically the only Irene Kral recording available domestically. Recorded at Half Moon Bay, CA, the relaxed date finds Kral accompanied by her favorite pianist, Alan Broadbent (featured on an instrumental version of "I Love You"), bassist... Read More