At Mister Kelly's

Well, I'm a fan of Sarah Vaughan, but not of live albums. She is possibly my favourite vocalist of the big band era, so I gave this an honest chance. It's pretty cool. But I'd still rather listen to her studio recordings. I don't get anything from the MC introducing, or the crowd coughing, or Sarah and the band messing up one of the tracks. On the closing track, "How High the Moon", she sings (without breaking her stride) "Ella Fitzgerald does this song real crazy", then does a kind of impression of Ella's scat singing. Now there's something cool that you wouldn't hear in the studio I guess. Her voice sounds great as always, and the original concise selection of 9 tracks is strong. (All the reissues more than double this number. Will we ever get away from the early CD era mentality of "cram as much bonus stuff on the disc as possible"?) Overall, this is probably a 3.5 from me, but I will round it up to 4 given that none of Sarah's studio material seems to appear in the 1001 list (which by the way is a fucking travesty given how many redundant picks of post-1960 white male rock music they managed to fit in).

This album is like the smoothest cup of coffee and the warmest blanket on the coldest day.

“At Mister Kelly’s” by Sarah Vaughan (1957) As live albums go, this one’s not bad, and of course jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughan is stellar. A somewhat haphazard collection of great songs by great songwriters is exquisitely performed by Vaughan, backed by understated piano, soulful double bass and beautifully restrained drums (although one of the backing guys occasionally and annoyingly hums throughout). The recording quality and the mix are better than one might expect. And the audience at Chicago’s Mr. Kelly’s is well behaved (they were warned that they were being taped). Under-rehearsed and nicely improvisational, these songs engage the listener, who can’t help but to ‘lean in’ to the synthesis between the composition and the performance. It captures an essential element of jazz. Sarah Vaughan’s voice is great. Her stylings are fresh and her tonal quality is superb. She hits impossible intervals with precision and apparent ease. In her diction, there’s a slight but persistent lisp (listen to end of the word “stars” on “Stairway to the Stars”) but hey, this ain’t the Met. Major flubs (in “Willow Weep for Me” and “How High the Moon”) are pulled off with humor and panache. She sings, “according to that [the lyrics sheet] I’m through, but they’re still playin’, so I’ll keep on singin’”. I laughed out loud; so did the audience and so will you. It completely blew the melancholy mood of the song (“Willow Weep for Me”), but what are you gonna do when you’ve already bumped a mic stand, the audience is staring nervously at you and the tape machine is rolling? This album is an artifact of a fine piece of entertainment that makes me wish I’d been there. 3/5

Amazing voice. A gig I'd have liked to have been at, sat at a table with an Old Fashioned and pack of cigarettes.

Loved practically everything about this. The old-timey recording nature of this live performance (I imagine in a smallish lounge at Mister Kelly's) gives this such an intimate feel. Moments like the man introducing Sarah Vaughan and cracking a joke about all the attendees being "Mercury recording artists," the artist joking about messing up a song and the crowd laughing around her, and the small talk and glasses clinking in the background really make you feel like you're a part of the performance. I typically enjoy instrumental jazz more, but she's got a great voice that really captivated me for the entire album Saved: September In The Rain, Be Anything But Darling Be Mine

This is unbelievably good.

She sings like a warm hug:)

Really loved her rendition of “Just One of Those Things” and “Honeysuckle Rose.” “How High the Moon” was also great. She felt really playful and that made it all the more entertaining. It’s great when jazz singers don’t take themselves so seriously. Mister Kelly’s always has great acts. Maybe the venue brings out the best in performers. Anita O’Day released her Mister Kelly’s the following year I believe, in 1958, and that’s also quite an experience. Again, very loose and fun show to listen to. Great interaction between band members. Hopefully there’s some Anita on this list… This was a great listen regardless

So great. Jazz is a music style that sounds so much better in a live foramt and this was truly magical

It's rare that a Live album should be considered a must listen, this is one of them. There is something about early Jazz and the American Songbook that only improves when performed live in a small club. Sarah Vaughn is one of the top females singers from this era, sometimes overshadowed by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, her voice remained at it's peak throughout her career and didn't suffer the fallbacks that the others did. Good solid performance. 4/5.

How many more times am I going to have to listen to “Just a Gigolo” because of this list? I’m at two currently, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened more than once.

Super smooth. Sarah Vaughan is up there in my favourite jazz vocalists, and I think this is the album of hers that I have most enjoyed. Stripped of her usual highly orchestrated, string-heavy arrangements to a bare trio backing, intimately recorded, you get to hear her beautiful tone and phrasing without distraction. There is a touch more breathiness and slight husk in the quieter moments that sounds close and real. Her ability to deliver a real emotional content is wonderful. Probably my favourite Sarah Vaughan record, and I will probably pick a copy up when I see one around. Love the versions of Just a Gigolo and How High the Moon that close out this album.

First off, the improvised humor during the second song (Willow Weep For Me) and throughout the last song (How High The Moon) put a smile on my face. It was enjoyable to hear an artist just rolling with it in a live performance. And honestly, if you weren't paying close attention, I think it would just roll by you as a listener as well. It's a testament to how clean, tight and yet how fluid Sarah Vaughan and the Trio are across this album. Everything about this album felt in perfect balance, which I find especially remarkable given it's a recording of a live performance. Sarah's vocals are an enchanting blend of smooth, pitch perfect and with a touch of smokey rasp. She carries every tune perfectly and doesn't overly-adorn, preferring instead to be straight to the point. And sitting just below the canopy of the vocals is the remarkably stout trunk that is the backing trio. Their performance was equaly clear, concise and beautiful. All told, it's a lovely album, made more special by the candor and simplicity that comes from the stripped down production of recording a live performance.

Great old live album. She can really sing

What a stunning voice, and what a beautifully ambient album. I'm not familiar with vocal jazz in general, and this makes me want to explore the genre more. My top pick is 'Willow Weep for Me', both for the lovely melancholic sound and the interaction with the crowd.

This one’s personal. My mother was actually there! She was 19 years old, fresh off a breakup, working as a secretary downtown and living the grown-up life in Chicago, complete with high heels, menthol cigarettes, and cocktails at Mister Kelly’s. Listening to this feels like slipping into her kitten heels and stepping back into the smoky glow of 1950s nightlife.

This is fantastic. A collection of standards but Vaughan's performance makes it very special.

Nothing more fitting for a rainy morning than this album. A cozy listen.

A beautiful intimate performance. Sympathetic accompaniment, tasteful playing and a great batch of songs. Sarah's voice is impeccable, rhe arrangements are perfect and her delivery; relaxed inimate and rhythmicly they swing. Don't often understand the rhyme or reason behind some of the non-rock choices but for this one I'm grateful that I was able to discover this amazing album 5 🌟

Historically I'm not a jazz fan but this singer has a magnificent voice. "How High the Moon" includes her scatting (live) and it's like watching a gymnast execute a perfect routine.

Sarah Vaughan has a gorgeous voice and a great sense of humor! Even when she forgot the lyrics to a song, she made it work and elicited laughter from her audience. What a captivating musician. This live album captures her in sound. Excellent listening.

I had never heard of Sarah Vaughan before this. As soon as I heard her voice, I opened up Wikipedia and started reading up on her; evidently she was very important back in her day. Her voice sounds so inviting, and her vibrato is incredible. It's so warm and enticing that it makes one feel like they're in the room with her as she's singing. I'll definitely have to look into her other work at some point. Favorites: September in the Rain, Just One of those Things

I love how relaxed the atmosphere is on the album. It is like Sarah Vaughan is putting on a show just for you. Such an intimate live album as opposed to the at times bombastic stadium fillers. I need to listen to Sarah Vaughan some more.

Sweet voice and nice toned down show. Not the most exciting thing in the world, but there was an intimacy to it I found very valuable.

This album takes you back to a time when lounge singers and dinner clubs were an actual option. Vaughan's voice rises and swoons as she weaves a spell capturing the magic of an era.

Smooth.

Satte 4 först. Insåg efter några dagar att de mina två första album (Monaé och Vaughan) var solklara 5:or i jämförelse m övriga album.

What a beautiful and intimate album - these are the sorta live albums i like. you've got people laughing, you've got beautiful vocals and the backing band just know what their doing. love me big band albums cause i'm a lil bit of a jazzhead haha

Album 898 of 1089 Sarah Vaughan - At Mister Kelly's (1957) Rating : 3.5 / 5 I really love these blasts from the past - back to a much simpler time before the music industry became the monster that it is today. While I’m usually not big on live recordings, this one hit just right. The intimate feeling of the performance came through beautifully, almost as if I was sitting there in the crowd taking it all in. Sarah’s voice is in full command here, smooth and effortless, backed by a trio that keeps the mood light and swinging without ever stepping on her delivery. The banter and the small-room vibe only add to the charm. It’s the kind of performance that makes you wish you could have been there. A fine album, and one I’d recommend to anyone curious about experiencing jazz at its most personal.

8.5/10

I'm always a bit trepidatious with live recordings especially older ones, but this is top notch. Sarah Vaughan is a phenomenal jazz vocalist and is top notch here. The few parts that do remind you it is live are whimsical. Jimmy Jones, Roy Haynes and Richard Davis are obviously great in support. It's more of a 3.5-3.8 but I'm giving it a 4/5. I'm more likely to put on a studio recording of Sarah Vaughan's but this was a quick treat.

My first time actively listening to Sarah Vaughan. This is, simply put, really damn good. Absolutely beautiful voice, interesting and delicate instrumental accompaniment, as well as lovely, sincerely intimate and lite-hearted atmosphere in the club. 8.5/10

This is a live album featuring Sarah Vaughan and her trio recorded at the legendary Chicago jazz club Mister Kelly's on Rush St in 1957. Sarah Vaughan also known as "Sassy" and "The Divine One" was a decorated (Grammy's, jazz awards) jazz vocalist starting in the 1940's with a great, tremendous voice. Her trio consisted of Jimmy Jones-piano, Richard Davis-double bass and Roy Haynes-drums. The songs have Sarah covering jazz and musical standards from the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's. This is a pretty laid back affair: Sarah's voice dominates with a softer jazz backing band. The man who introduces the concert tells the audience she will be singing from lyric sheets. And, in a few songs she flat out says she doesn't know the lyrics. One of those songs, "How High the Moon", is one of my favorite on the album as she says it's an Ella Fitzgerald song, doesn't know the lyrics and starts improvising. It was fantastic. Other song highlights included "Stairway to the Star" - Incredible vocal ending, "Lucky in Love" and "Poor Butterfly." I'd imagine this would hit the spot on a Sunday afternoon while reading a book or doing something. Honestly, at 113 minutes, it was rather long. If your into more relaxing jazz music with an incredible vocalist, this is your album. I appreciated it for that.

No idea who this is, which doesn't bode well. And it appears to be a live album, so it's got that going for it too. If I vote it higher than 2 on general principle, it's going to be an amazing record. OK, so I've listened to it and it's a 4 star. Her voice is nothing short of amazing. The band are well mic'd and tighter than a gnat's twat. Obviously if this were studio recorded it'd be five stars, but there we go...

Exquisite voice and accomplished confident performer. I usually choose to listen to Ella for this type of jazz, but Sarah Vaughan's voice is so smooth. Great piano playing (drums and bass are so good you don't notice them). Lovely recording.

At Mister Kelly’s Although on occasion her vocal style feels very of its time, she does of course have a lovely, relaxed warmth to her tone and its truly great voice. And it's nicely mirrored in the understated and thoughtful playing, the piano moving delicately around her voice and the bass and drums never getting too showy or splashy. Although there are some great songs by some great songwriters on here, I think it works a bit better as an overall feeling and atmosphere rather than as focus on individual songs - there are occasional missteps, and it doesn’t feel as tightly improvised as other albums we’ve had, but the relaxed, undemanding spirit makes it a charming listen, even if it never really gets out of 3rd gear. I’d certainly listen again if in the right mood, and her voice is lovely, but I think it tops out at a high 3. 👒👒👒 Playlist submission: Stairway to the Stars

I am not a Jazz guy and, for that, I feel bad about myself. So I cannot get too jazzed up about this album. But do not get me wrong, there is nothing distasteful on here. In fact, plenty of it is quite good, especially Sarah Vaughan's voice. This record would be a nice accompaniment for a dinner party with cool friends or, possibly, even sexy time. I definitely enjoyed the slice-of-life Chicago nightclub vibe. There is a part when you hear an audible thud followed by the crowd chuckling. This was presumably in response to a busboy slipping on a banana peel and stumbling, genitals first, into a microphone.

Sarah Vaughan had a tremendous voice, but there is nothing exceptional about this album. Just a standard live album by a jazz singer.

Syrupy voice. Fun but no Nina or Ella

Ms. Vaughan sings good, real good. Smooth and tender, but also powerful. Her trio band (bass, piano, drums) is solid - understated, never stealing the light and rarely even stepping into it, but still highly competent and filling the supportive role well. As a live album this is solid - the sound is crisp, her voice is on point, the audience is per stable but not distracting, there are little flubs that add to the fun and realness but don’t take away from quality. All things said this is a solid live vocal jazz album from Sarah Vaughan, though the style may not be a top preference of mine.

Good live album

Beautiful voice, I was somehow totally unfamiliar with her before this. My loss. Loved that this was more of a moment in time than a polished record, with multiple flubs and mistakes kept in the final recordings. Adds some humanity to this otherworldly voice we’re hearing.

chilled

Genuinely never heard of her before, which surprised me. Lovely voice, standard songbook though. I know it's of its time to do the songbook but it is just lovely covers.

Great album, what a voice!

A great voice and I love the personality that comes along with a live recording. Sounds like something that would be playing during a candlelit dinner in a romance movie (3.5/5)

This is a classy specimen of music that I will enjoy in a bar, but will never take home with me. The off-the-peg nature of the songs plays on my mind, though I know good artists make others’ work their own. The drumming is softly exquisite.

This is certainly a 1957 live album by American jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, recorded at Mister Kelly's jazz club in Chicago.

Solid jazz. Live venue helps and is done nicely!

There are stereotypes out there about jazz, that it takes itself too seriously, or people who listen to jazz are snooty, or better-than. Or some think jazz is inaccessible. Anyone who thinks that should definitely listen to this album. Sarah Vaughan stays cool, calm, and makes the crowd laugh as she effortlessly flows through this set. The band, the audience, and her have a sense of community as they experience the music together. Vocal jazz is not my thing personally, I like jazz without vocals, but I really enjoyed listening to this legendary vocalist. The recording is so intimate you can hear audience members whispering to each other, and I really felt like I was in the room. I found it easy to listen to, and I have a much better understanding of Sarah Vaughan now.

No. 92/1001 September In The Rain 3/5 Willow Weep For Me 3/5 Just One Of Those Things 4/5 Be Anything But Darling Be Me 3/5 Thou Swell 3/5 Stairway To The Stars 3/5 Honeysuckle Rose 3/5 Just A Gigolo 2/5 How High The Moon 2/5 Average: 2,89 I didn't really like what she was doing with her voice that much. And that's the whole pull for this record.

3 stars pleasant enough, not my bag tho

Not my cup of tea.

Her voice is super vibrato heavy but I do like it. The recording is very intimate and casual. It's cool. Vocal jazz maybe isn't for me and I didn't like the scat singing at the end, but glad to have been exposed to this.

I found her vibrato triggering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcEKtVZ0XX4&t=3 this is all i could picture listening to this album.

Sounds like bad karaoke night at the jazz lounge. I like the lounge vibe, but these tracks are all about the vocals, and she’s not a good vocalist. Her range is limited, her style is abrupt rather than sultry, she has a weird cadence, and she seems to be searching for her notes. Not sure how this makes the list or why it’s special. Hard pass in a genre I normally enjoy.

Great jazz!

I first got introduced to Sarah Vaughan at Jewel Kilcher's biography, she especifically mentioned Sarah's voice control. Although I have listened to some of Sarah's songs, it is in this album that her voice control is crystalline. The way she reaches her lows delivers her highs and deliver the message of the song is something magical. The whole album shows well, even in her imperfections how amazing her voice and charisma are. I am learning here that I love Jazz and Sarah will be definitely an artist that I will be revisiting a lot! 5/5

Such a lovely album! I normally don't like jazz or live albums, but the audience fully appreciated the performance, only interjecting a couple of times when appropriate. The mistakes she made during the recording made it feel very immersive. My rating: 5/5

Pleasant, easy listening music. Would love to hear more like this throughout. I kind of love the way they introduce the performance on the album itself. It adds to the ambience. Favorite Songs: September in the Rain, How High The Moon

What. A. Voice. I felt like I was in the room being enchanted by this vocal siren

Throughly enjoyed this album and it definitely was a mood lifter!

Incredible listen! The expanded version is well worth the listen! Wasn’t really familiar with her repertoire, but was thoroughly buh-lown away. Can’t be in a bad mood listening to this album even for a second.

What an amazing voice to spend the day with. From the moment of her introduction through the final note, this was a snapshot of a one of a kind, gracious, humble, shimmering star. Every song on this album is perfect, unlike KISS’s disastrous 1998 comeback flop “Psycho Circus”, and is made even more so by the humanity and professionalism in which she handles her mistakes in the moment. Sharing a laugh with an extremely lucky audience, while letting a little more of the heart on her sleeve show. Made even better by the incredible band behind her, this album absolutely earns its spot on the 1001.

Wow.. maybe its because I listened on a rainy September morning and the first track synced up perfectly, but this hits different. My kind of jazz, just piano, percussion, upright bass, and a truly otherworldly voice. Even when Vaughan forgets the lyrics, she pulls it off so well and nails the scatting. Absolutely gorgeous, provides a warm feeling for the whole 35 minutes, love this one

God damn what an incredible voice. This brought me to tears, as this kind of music makes me think of my family. Amazing personality and performance from the great Sarah Vaughan.

Beautiful voice. Fun album as far as live albums go. Love to hear the flubs and the audience talking. Makes me feel like Im there. Big fan of this.

Her voice is gorgeous and I liked the spontaneity of the live performance. No complaints here.

>> the Beatles

Häftigt livealbum för sin ålder. Sarah Vaughan är fantastiskt och ljudkvalitén är verkligen otroligt.

This was an unexpected delight. I already loved Sarah Vaughan's voice and her tendency to hood on tritones and 7ths and unexpected notes, but this recording really feels like being in a smoky, vibrant club drinking cocktails and relaxing. The 'mistakes" add to the charm. One to put on headphones and just unwind to.

Sarah Vaughan is clearly an immensely talented vocalist. This live recording is just an astonishing showcase that obviously sounds incredible but is also full of little hiccups, gaffs, and improvisations that make it so so charming to listen to. Honeysuckle Rose is absolutely killer, but that's just a favorite on a record of highlights. How High the Moon with some nice scatting (and love for Ella!) is also just great.

Wow this was fun. Sarah Vaughan's voice is incredible. Powerful and soft and the musicians did a great job. The album itself is so fun too. Opening with telling the audience the recording is happening and the banter of the club. I really enjoyed this.

Favorite tracks: September in the Rain, Thou Swell I would be happy to have this album as background music for the rest of my life, it is absolutely beautiful. I kept forgetting it was live until the audience started clapping, they sounded about as perfect as can be (also I couldn't believe the recording quality for 1957). I couldn't help but smile at Sarah Vaugan's improv at the end of Willow Weep for Me, I'm sure she was fun to see live. Her voice is incredible and I will absolutely be returning to this album.

Very charming and lovely

Brilliant album. First listen loved that!

For me, this album is a flawless masterpiece. If I would have to think of an album that best represents the emotion of love it would be this one ❤️ it’s soothing, charming, heartwarming, and stimulating at the same time

ooooh! this one is a keeper. honey-voiced, i felt like i was there.

Amazing and a forerunner for the great jazz and R&B that was to follow. This album was early in Ms. Vaughan's decades long career and one knows from the first listen that she would be here to stay.

Amazing. Great voice Great vibe great audience

A beautiful voice in a rainy and moody Chicago.

i looooveeeee thissss sooooo muuuccchchhhhh

1958 Vocal jazz

amazing and worth every second of listenting.

This album is an incredible time, what a great atmosphere and time capsule.

Delightful. Jazz

none of the readings here are revelatory, but theyre all wonderful and warm and atmospheric. vaughan has charisma for days and the venue is captured vibrantly... from its space, the sounds of its patrons, occasional clinks of glass, the time taken for lengthy mellow piano stretches. vaughan all but opens the record by playing off an unexpected extension like a champ, and ends the record by improvising lyrics and scatting to how high the moon. that rly sums up the whole experience of this thing...transparent, transporting, casual, comfy, a series of things just falling effortlessly into place. this would sound good in just about any context i could imagine

Tho not exactly overshadowed by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan does seem to be remembered as the third of that legendary trio of jazz vocalists, perhaps the three greatest of the twentieth century. On this live recording, she musters up so much clarity, so much simplicity, so much swing, so many daring flashes of on-key-then-off-key hilarities, that you'd be hard-pressed not to fall in love on impact. Her characteristic vibrato is actually more controlled in this live context than it often is in the studio, but she's as playful as ever, as jocoserious as Ella is in Berlin, w/ understatements and nonchalances keeping her afloat. She's far more full-bodied than she is merely impressive: a pivotal and enduring vocalist.

Beautiful jazz album! Lovely rich voice. Great piano. Made me feel like i was at barnes and noble at night. Wanted to cuddle by the fire during winter time. Listened to while coloring and felt very at peace!

Not what I would usually feel like listening to, but this is great stuff. So smooth. The improv on Willow caught me off guard and was hilarious. (I was ready for it the second time around, but still good.)

Loved it!

Honestly, I usually hate live albums, but this one made me want to slip back to 1957 again and again just to hear people eating, coughing, and that moment of complicity when Sarah realizes the band keeps playing even though “Willow Weep for Me” should have ended. Sarah Vaughan’s vocal quality is enviable, and it makes me sad I didn’t know her sooner.

This was fun. Not my cup of tea, but the humour and the unedited errors make for a great listen to a great performance. I would have difficulty understanding how anyone would not like this album.

Surprisingly short but no complaints. Beautiful voice from this era. The mixing was ok for a live album. 9/10

I’ve been trying to find this kind of sound and voice since I don’t know when. It’s a great listen.

Her voice is like velvet. The band is completely in the pocket and relaxed. The crowd, while pensive about being recorded, warmed up immediately after the first note from Sarah Vaughan. Unbelievable compilation of songs and performances. Stunning all around and one I'm happy I listened to before I died.

El primer track 🤌

Class act all the way.

excellent, fun live recording