At Mister Kelly's

What a difference a great singer makes! Great vocals are essential IMO for anything other than instrumental. Her voice is epic and I was amazed at how seamlessly she improvised the lyrics to the last song. Too bad it was a short album.

Amazing. Timeless, though, of course, having in mind and listening to the noise in the background, it almost gives a nostalgic sense to the music, and even more when, back then, it was a means for black people to represent their culture, when not a lot of white people have a shit about jazz.

Wonderful calm and itimate Jazz Album!

Absolutely superb - the divine Sarah!

Great stuff, good songs, perfect arrangements, Sarah Vaughan's voice is flawless, and the fun little "bloopers" throughout really tie it up with a bow.

Some albums are boring, some are just azz; this album is neither, this album is cash

Stunning voice

Lovely album. One of those perfect live recordings - fantastic! I really like the entire album, vocal, instrument and all around sound :)

I absolutely adore Sarah Vaughan. This is just beautiful stuff. If you don't like it, there's no hope for your eternal soul.

Lovely lovely voice :)

Ya like jazz?

I really liked this. Never listened to Sarah Vaughn before. This is the kind of album I was hoping to find on this list.

I listen to Vaughan all the time on KCCK, but have never listened to a complete album. Maybe the best live, vocal jazz album ever. Seriously!!

What a lovely voice. This album is so much fun and relaxing. I was in the perfect mood for this. Sarah Vaughan got some of the best pipes I've ever heard yet I rarely hear her name mention in the world of great vocalists

This was great - the final song cemented the 5 🌟 rating.

You can hear the charisma through the microphone. I adored everything about this

Very good! The candid recording about her never singing some of the songs is giving. Almost like being at Mr. Kelly's.

Utterly lovely

Smooth like a finely aged bourbon.

Absolutely amazing, felt as I was there

If you can’t enjoy this, there is no hope for you. You don’t have to love it, but by all that is good, you should be able to enjoy the beauty in that voice. I’m gonna listen to it again now.

Real strong vibe, enjoyed it thoroughly and the live aspect only enhanced it

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

Enjoyable I feel like hosting a cocktail party now LOL

Goddamn, I loved this one.

Absolutely stunning. Wasn't sure what to expect but this left me awestruck, tight three piece drum, piano and bass jazz band and Sarah has the range, good lord does she have the range.

I love the album cover. I love live albums. I haven't heard of Sarah Vaughan before, but I'm loving this record after the first few songs. These old live albums makes me reflect on how amazing it is to listen to these moments in time so many years later. This is an intimate record made in a legendary club, attended by people who are more than likely all dead, and I get to be there too. That's pretty cool. Her personality comes through in a big way in Willow Weep for Me. I love funny crowd interactions. I loved the whole album. Very relaxing with some nice crowd moments. 9/10

This one has such an intense sense of place. I didn’t just listen to this, I felt it. Absolutely demands to be listened to at night.

5/5

a beautiful classic jazz album and live performance. sarah's soulful and resonant voice paired with her bubbly personality keeps the audience, me included interested in her act all the way through. this was recorded in the 1950s but the quality is absolutely phenomenal for this time; makes you feel like you're there.

Beautiful musicianship, while extraordinarily down to earth. This amazing little album brings you into a true live experience, which contains as much charming personality as wonderful music.

Maybe someone with a better ear than mine can tell if Sarah misses a note in this live set, but I don’t hear one. If she did, it still sounded amazing. I haven’t heard this before but I was mesmerized.

Wonderful. The live nature of the album just adds so much warmth and humor to the album. Plus Sarah Vaughns vocals are like velvet caressing my ears

so sick

It is cool to listen to a live album from 70 years ago. Sarah Vaughan is very solid, but not my go to listening.

5/5 I liked it

BEAUTIFUL, SHE IS SUCH A GREAT SINGER

What a beautiful voice!

If I had to describe this album in one word: charming. Sarah Vaughn has an incredibly soothing and calming voice, that's also very subtley powerful and welcoming all at once. The laughter at minor mistakes during the show really makes the album feel authentic, like you're really there listening to the performance. Top tracks: Willow Weep For Me, How High the Moon, Dream

I could listen to her forever.

This is fucking phenomenal.

This is the kind of album where everything just feels effortless. The musicians on stage, Vaughan just being cool and belting out insane notes, the intimacy of a small club with an accepting and collected crowd, even down to the MC introduction. It all just feels like a group of friends performing for one another because they're really fucking good and there's nothing better to do. But there's SO MUCH talent crammed onto the stage here. This is really a masterclass in musicianship that just so happens to be in disguise as a lighthearted, playful live album.

I’ve listened to a lot of live albums, and this just might be the one that most makes me feel like part of the crowd.

Oh hells yes! How lucky are we to live on the same planet as Sarah Vaughan’s recordings. The singer’s singer. Her voice is impossibly flawless. Her entire catalog could be on this list. Not enough stars available.

Cool

Wow, does this album take you away to a different time. Her voice is amazing, the band is excellent, and it sounds like it was a Cool evening (with a capital C, and like a classic jazz star would say it, not like how a run of the mill hippie would say it). At first I felt it was a little bit too heavy on the "standard" jazz set list that I've heard a million times, but then reminded myself that's probably not fair since she's a part of what made the setlist "standard." Anyway, the more I listened, the more I enjoyed it. I'm going with a 5 as an acknowledgment of the significance of her work and the jazz mastery on this album.

Fantastic old pop jazz record! Really enjoyed this! Some old classics I had no idea went this far back.

Pristine vocals. Funny equipment gaffe during the live recording.

Never heard before; enjoyed a lot

Never heard of the artist before but completely smitten. Her voice is easy and beautiful. I wish the Spotify album was the full album sited in the wiki article. 100% would listen over and over. The recording is crisp and intimate

Such a beautiful voice. And such a nice recording. Full of little tidbits of realism and “moments” 5 stars

one of the best of all time what else is there to say!

O MELHOR

好听！收音好好的现场专辑，醇厚浓郁的质地。好想跑到那天的现场听呀lol

I have never heard of her, but depending on the comments I'm expecting a great voice, a little humour, and IT'S LIVE, first time listening to a live album because of this project. I've been searching for a woman jazz singer, with mentioned qualities and this must be it. I expect a lot. First song, starts with talking, which is expected since it's live. I feel like this is Cabaret, but in real life, that film changed my life and this better do the same too. Jazzyness is in the air. Her vocals are very unique that last note of raiIiIiIin yk. I am in love with her voice, it's too unique. Applause really deserved, do wonder if she will high note anytime. Second song, Oop she's being humourous, fun. Well obviously there was a transition it's live. This one's more sad, the song. Her vocals sameness is very good, never disappoints in the best way possible. The background jazz is amazing, it takes me back in time. Long instrumental pause, it's necessary, I need to feel them too. Ooo the sounds are happening, laughing someone coughed, smth fell(?), I couldn't find the recording of this, but it might not even exist. Oooo self degrading in a fun way, love thaat. Third song, upbeaat. Happier vibe, but not very energetic. Same happened, just there was no pause. Less her unique vocals, but it's got the better, too much ruins the magic. The live jazz might be just generally better than recorded ones yk. Fourth song, without applause I wouldn't know if song changed, though this one has a slower tempo so idk. Her vocals earthquake my ears and makes me levitate. Lyrics are goood and the way she says them. The humming part was different from her and enjoyed that too. Fifth song, Shakespeare's old English appeared. It's under medium upbeat for me. She sings more and louder I think. There is no theatrical dramatical finish offs at the end, which is bad, but also the vibe. Sixth song, are these covers, haven't heard them before I'm sure, just wondering. Songs averagely short I suppose, but there are some 5 minutes ones. I need more from her voice and the band, but that won't happen I'm afraid, this is the chill place, and I doubt if it will have more thsn this energy, not complaining tho I love this. This feels like a background music, but her voice is not for thatt. 7th song, slightly different lyrical delivery. Averagely upbeat song. Vocalising is also not the same, like that diversity I guess. I wish there were less elevator vibes and actual woman vocal jazz ones. The instrumental break isn't giving me anything, though thing is I shouldn't be expecting what I mentioned, so without that in mind, I love this song's simplicity. 8th song, smn complained about listening to "just a gigolo" already two times. First time hearing that it even exists. Less lyrics, so more jazz, but it's downbeat. Angelic vocals as it is getting to the end of the song. This had something in it even though it was not as entertaining. 9th song, a happier song I see(sorry ijdk what else to say when the songs start in this album). OOO THE SHABADOBEE IS GIVING Monroe. This is the funniest song to listen to. I suppose for a final song, it does have a touch of it by introducing something fully different. She doesn't stop huh. Perfect transition to gettable lyrics. Dramatic instrumental finish aand applause, but not proper for the last song. I have to say, there are many factors why this is a 5 star album for me. This is the first live album I've got. I love jazz and women vocalists. She has an amazing voice and her vocalising is UNIQUE. I traveled back in time and I expect no less from other albums. Plus I've been in an old cabaret like places music mood, so this fits me right, no words left to say, just it could have been more powerful sonic and vocal wise, but that wasn't the point of the album in the first place.

SOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL i loved everything about this. The live aspect and of course her incredible voice.

What a charming album. From the opening to her making a mistake and singing through it, with the audience laughing along, this was such a nice listen.

Very nice live piano trio jazz with a beautiful vocal. You hear a lot of interaction with the audience, which almost makes you feel that you are in the room.

Love the live aspect of this album, just closed my eyes and I’m transported to 1957 Chicago, sipping a whiskey highball and enjoying this wonderful jazz with this amazing signer. Also so cool how she can improvise without missing a beat, especially on How High the Moon where she just begins making it up as she goes, which is how I sing when I don’t know the lyrics! I’m so glad they recorded performances like this so they can live on forever. Perfect album cover, just has that jazz club feel, like I’m outside about to walk into the club from the street.

Pretty standard american swing jazz music from an all-time great of that genre. Guess the only uniqueness is that it was all live.

I was skeptical when I saw that it was a live album, but I honestly loved it. Sarah is so talented vocally and the production was way better than I'd expect from a live album - aside from the ad-libs and applause I never could guess that it was live. The charm is fantastic and it was just so fun to listen to. Even though I don't care too much for Jazz, I'll have to give it a 5.

Oh gosh 😮 I adore her.

Good jazz

Very well done. Soothing. Classic.

Sarah Vaughan! Love, love, love it. Rich, velvety, artistic, masterful, soulful Sarah. One of the greatest.

Great mood listening for a lazy day. Loved this album

Awesome album, really amazing vocals and chords on this. Great listening especially while doing work. 5/5, would listen again

Amazing.

I had never listened to Sarah Vaughan's records. I love her voice, and she's so charming in this live recording. Very lovely record and performance.

Now THIS is jazz

Perfect album. It sends one to a dimly lit place, enjoying a cocktail and conversation. Brilliantly sung.

I yearn to be in the room for a performance like this.

Such a rich voice and the selection of songs was pure pleasure

So smooth, completely transported back in time. Must have been amazing to see this live.

Magnificent voice and charming stage presence. Frank Sinatra was a big fan too which is neat. Will def check more of her stuff out.

Not a bad song on this album (except maybe that last one). Also a great live album; really shows off her voice, a little bit of her personality, and makes you feel like you’re right there in the venue. 9.5/10

A beautiful recording. Vaughan’s voice smooth and full of emotion. You can hear how much she enjoys performing which makes the listening experience even better.

Amazing performance. Had to immediately find a vinyl copy.

Loved it

While I've certainly heard her songs, this is my first time listening to a Sarah Vaughan album, and let me tell you it was a revelation. I usually am not a fan of live recordings, but this might be the exception. At the beginning of the record, the host explains to the audience that she'll be using lyric sheets. Well she must have lost some of them, because she frequently doesn't have the words and she doesn't need them either. These moments when you hear her just go off on a riff are jaw-dropping. The sound of the recording is studio-quality, but you get to hear the spontaneous, playful side of her as well. I don't know why anyone else bothers singing after hearing this. The piano by Jimmy Jones is just gorgeous.

Chill background jazz - would love it on vinyl!

Beautiful voiced jazz singer. 5/5

Excellent album. There's a reason she was called the Devine One. Her vocal jazz and her range are outstanding.

I'd never been exposed to her work, but loved it, and especially for background while I am working. Sets a fantastic mood.

intimate and soulful

Love love love this album! What a beautiful and crisp voice! Her runs are impeccable!

Perfection. Vaughan is in her element live. She sparkles. Five huge stars.

Fantastic voice, great jazz. One of those things and honeysuckle are phenomenal. Solid length too

The incomparable Sarah Vaughan. No one can sing like her though many have tried. Love the selection of classics.

Super - I love it!

- i looked up sarah for fun even though i never look up these artists and eventually found out her grandson is followed by one of my favourite hockey players. so everything is fun and connected in a way

Oddly this sounds still relevant, considering it's from seventy years ago. Interesting album.

An unsurprising starlet recorded candidly

hi september in the rain- i love her voice. i like the bass and keys. smile. 6 or 7 willow weep for me- oh shes adorable. um i enjoy it 5 or 6. i dont have a lot to say. just one of those things- a little more groove. 7 be anything but darling but be mine- i think its cute and sweet. 7 or 8 thou swell- this is cute too. 7 or 8 stairway to the stars- a little too slow for me but its nice. 6 honeysuckle rose- i like that bass. its cute 6 or 7 just a gigolo- too slow for me. not my favorite version but it is nice i like how she says "you" like shes observing this person. 5 how high the moon- oh shes so cute. i love her improv. didnt they say she had a lyric sheet? doesnt matter she ate. 7

Excellent disque ! Une réelle ambiance de club de jazz des années 1950. Un des meilleurs disques de jazz vocal.

What a voice. I forgot it was live a couple times.

This is Beautiful

God I want to go to a cool jazz bar

Lovely, intimate recording. Another one for this list of things that I’d love to listen to on vinyl

I really like live albums. Cool that this one captures some imperfections too - makes it feel a bit like you are there in the room. I love how she sings “we tried our best” on How High the Moon after forgetting the lyrics. Favorite tracks are Be Anything but Darling Be Mine and Honeysuckle Rose. I love her phrasing and vibrato. Cool piano solo on Just a Gigolo.

Surprised to see this on here! Shes such a great vocalist and these are great tunes. Kind of hard to hear the band but sounds pretty good for a 50’s live record. Funny how they mention she’s reading lyrics in the beginning and then she forgets all the words 😂

Amazing.

All Day. Love this music, love this era, love jazz standards sung so happily and sweetly. So satisfying and easy to listen to anytime but especially at Christmastime for some reason.

I wish I could go see shows like this at jazz clubs. What a voice. What a performance.

Felt like I was sitting at a little table in the venue. Soothing, charismatic, short and sweet. Incredible voice

Love it, classic vibe. Live recording is also dope

Never heard of her before but will definitely be listening to more of her

Heerlijk met dit weer! Nog beter met een sigaar. Album 2x geluisterd zonder dat het verveelde

Ja dit is het. Wat een stembereik, sfeer, muzikaliteit. Meestal doen live albums niet zo veel voor me maar ik had het gevoel dat ik erbij was en maakte het speels. Ik ben verliefd.

I felt like I needed to get much more dressed up to listen to this. And drink a martini. It was a tight album. Vocals were amazing.

Wonderful little album. I am a big fan of Ella Fitzgerald but had never listed to Sarah Vaughan. Her voice is incredible and her charm is evident throughout this live album. Great stuff.

I mean come on… It’s like this was made for me to like. Just listening to the first song this might be a 5 for me

Great recording, I love the vibe of live jazz. These albums capture something truly special.

Outstanding

I have not heard a lot of Sarah Vaughan. This live album is exceptional, Sarah has such a pure voice. The songs she sings must have been the top songs of the day, most have become classics. My favourites were September In The Rain, Just A Gigolo and It's Got To Be Love. Well worth lots more listening.

Loved it. Had never heard her before. Will certainly be a big fan moving forward.

Great album, I dig it.

Превосходно

All these female jazz singers just leave me spellbound. While Vaughan’s style is not as distinctive as some others, her voice sounds like a true instrument to me. Her range is astonishing, the vibrato used to great effect. I loved it.

Very beautiful morning coffee and beach walk music 😋

Sarah’s voice. The musical vibe front to back. The live setting ambiance. A surprising masterpiece.

De esta lista, este álbum de Sarah Vaughn debe ser uno de los más imprescindibles. El antiguo registro en vivo es una pieza que nos transporta a los '50 y al apogeo del Jazz cantado, en un viaje casi mágico guiado por una poderosa y adictiva voz. Un imprescindible de la música en general.

My fall vibe

Cozy! Chill. Cool.

Best description for this is smooth and comfortable. I love the overall presentation, and you feel like you're in a small club listening to her great voice.

Jazz, beautiful voice, awesome to hear how they improvised throughout the live album.

V peaceful

Yeah that’s an excellent album. Her voice is so warm and rich yet there’s also these great moments where it gets sharp and brassy. Her voice is very instrument-like in that way, adjusting and curving around notes in so many interesting ways. Really enjoyed it. Best song: How High the Moon

Fantastic little album. Usually not a fan of live recordings but this one is just right

Awesome live light jazz album. Piano, trumpet and vocals.

I am not the biggest fan of jazz, but I really enjoyed it! Sarah’s voice was so relaxing.

preciosura total, una caricia al alma❤️‍🩹🫡 9/10

What a smooth velvety voice. Love this from start to finish. I haven’t heard of Sarah Vaughan before but she must be one of the best jazz vocals like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

Absolutely beautiful and human performance that I love listening to.

Solid album. Great vocals. Thoroughly enjoyable.

1959’s jazz by a black woman we are living

I love this type of jazz. I love her voice. This album is a home run.

*MWAH*: this is what a live album should be. From the mistake in the second (I think) track but being able to play it off making true audience connection as well as in the last made this album feel as if you were in a jazz bar experiencing this live. Just for that I would jump at the opportunity to listen again and I know that a lot of the tracks were covers but Sarah has an amazing warm voice leading to this to feel fresh and special.

"Fouling" it up put a smile on my face. We like people for who they are, but we love them for their mistakes. So tender and beautiful, a natural performer, and her voice carries it with so much grace.

brutal

I want to listen to this while sipping a latte in a coffee shop on a rainy day orrrrr a martini in a classy bar

This is exactly what I want out of a 50's album, exactly the quintessential jazz band song experience I'm looking for. And what a voice! How did I not know Sarah Vaughan?

lovely

not good

It's simple, classic songs performed beautifully.

Really talented singer. I usually don't listen to a lot of jazz, but this was really beautiful music.

Very beautiful

5/5 As a live performance and not a collection of original material, I was going to give this a max of 4, but her astonishing delivery makes every song an original. Corny but true.

Sarah Vaughan has a great voice, very clear and striking, and it just sounds good. Very loose performance, but it's also very enjoyable. I like this a lot, the looseness and the song choices are really inspired and it gives it a lot of charming, low-key energy. It's not a big record, but I think the low-key-ness works in its favor.

Silky

Wow, you gonna need a whisky and a cigar!!

Sarah's voice and vocal control are lovely on this. And the instrumentation / arrangements on the tracks are excellent.

Stunning

Sublime. 5 / 5 stars.

One of the best “fly on the wall” live albums I’ve ever heard. The perfect mix of clean and professional with loose and intimate. Sarah has an amazing voice and the band sounds great. Also huge shoutout to the recording team for making a live 1957 recording sound better than a lot of studio albums 10 years later.

another great live album. great band, sarah sounds amazing, really chill vibes.

This is a fantastic recording, it sounds like she's here in the room with us! Her voice is incredible, even though the lyrics don't have much substance. It sounds like she put on a great show too, with some funny ad-libs. Glad to finally put a familiar name in context, I've heard of Sarah Vaughan all my life but never really listened to her.

I don't really gravitate toward vocal jazz all that much outside of Nina Simone. I can appreciate it (and do!), but I don't seek it out too often save for specific settings or company. I don't know that I've ever listened to more than the odd song here and there from Sarah Vaughan before this but this was quite a delight. Her rapport with the audience, in particular, is a treat; it feels very casual while also feeling like a formal show - a perfect atmosphere for something like this. And her voice is top notch - it's obviously no mistake that she's considered one of the greats.

Beautiful. And it has that crackle you love to hear from records of that era

Loved the piano. She’s got a great voice and she’s funny too. 9/10

started smiling as soon as she started singing, insane this album is making me realize just how many of these albums so far feature incredibly middling vocals by random white guys

Gorgeous classic jazz, the fact that it’s live really adds to the charm

Fantastic jazz pop. The couple of moments where Vaughn makes a mistake only humanize her and add to the live experience.

Microphone stands falling over, forgotten lyrics, and a band who just won't end the song make out what might be the most live album ever. This is my first time listening to Sarah Vaughan, having only learned her name via a name drop in a Father John Misty track. What a voice and what a presence in each and every note. On 'Be Anything (But Be Mine)' it is as if you're transported to Chicago in 1957 with Vaughan singing directly at you and only for you. Vaughan is in complete symbiosis with her trio, and even when they disagree, as on 'Willow Weep For Me', the resulting improvisation is delightful. Jimmy Jones behind the keys especially delivers an incredible performance. And speaking of improvisation, breaking into 'How High The Moon' without knowing a single lyric is just phenomenal.

BEAUTIFUL VOICE!! i absolutely love this album its very jazzy and nice, and pleasing to the ear.

I'm stoked to get a live album from the 1950's on here. Piano and a sweet voice, with a great drummer backing up and idk what else. The theme or intention of the singer hit hard at the End. Idk hard to not feel the artist wanting to get the people to see the black struggle and fucking back off. I don't know enough to comment further. This is the kinda music I'd like to be in the room for, the stuff I live to hear. Appreciated this one.

Fantastic

LO AME

Excellent album. Great peak jazz. 5/5

Beautiful live album. You really feel like you are in the club listening to it.

Loved it. She was a great artist

September In The Rain- 8 Willow Weep For Me- 9 Just One Of Those Things- 8 Be Anything But Darling Be Mine- 9 Thou Swell- 8 Stairway To The Stars- 8 Honeysuckle Rose- 9 Just a Gigolo- 7 How High The Moon- 10 (kinda funny)

Mister Kelly’s was the club in Chicago to perform or watch . Sarah’s rendition of Stairway to the Stars is tremendous.

Incredible. Absolutely loved it.

And just like that -click- I was a Sarah Vaughan fan.

"I don't know the words of this song but I'm going to sing it anyway"

incredible. iconic. gorgeous

Hot take, good voice!

Warm vocals over a smooth jazz trio. Playfulness and improvisation along side emotionally driven lyrics create a dynamic listening experience. Enjoyed leaving the crowd reactions in the album makes it feel more like the listener is present at the show.

Amazing voice! Can't believe I hadn't heard of her before.

Sarah's voice is so rich and beautiful. I was listening to the album right before bed, and it was the perfect soothing way to end a day. Most definitely 5/5 <3

Voce meravigliosa e performance strordinaria.

Wonderful

Amazing.

This was delightful.

Wonderful. I was delighted.

holy shit sarah sounds great! Sarah Vaugn makes each song leap to life and is just so effortlessly musical. That and so playful with her skat and call outs to various artists and flubs.

Amazing.

Fantastic. The live spirit of the record shines through.

not mine

Fab voice, absolutley fantastic

Wow...yesterday Ella Fitzgerald appears in my rotation and today I get Sarah Vaughan? I don't know what I did to deserve such royal treatment, but I'll take it. Ms. Vaughan's voice makes me cry in the best possible way. PS - I'm cracking up as she sings 'How High The Moon' and she has to improv because she doesn't know the words, and she's singing about how she doesn't know the words. Awesome.

Wow. What a special live performance. Loved it.

God I need a cigarette

Authentic and fun to listen to. Her music was fun and I liked how she interacted with the audience.

wonderfull

Lovely live album. Especially funny if you listen to some of the lyrics that are just her singing that she doesn't know. Gives it a very intimate touch.

Beautiful album, beautiful voice. The live aspect didn't detract much from the experience and sometimes even added to it!

De Rigueur for 70's suburban sprawl. Still love this record to death.

Vraiment solide comme album. J’ai adore 5*

So very good.

incredibly charming. will revisit.

Oh man, I love live jazz albums. I admit to having a bias on this front. I just REALLY love the silkiness in jazz singers' voices. It's interesting, one of my other favorite albums on this list--Sam Cooke--I enjoyed just as much, but they are SO different. Instead of being energizing, this album is calming and mellow. And Sarah Vaughan is VERY funny, in a natural, effortless way. Classic jazz attitude, I love her energy. Fave track: Willow Weep for Me. Extra points for the funny crowd interactions. She's like a damn comedian dealing with a heckler.

One of the greatest voices in jazz, accompanied in a tasteful, low-key, style by an excellent piano trio. This was a wonderful live recording of the album, which transported me to the actual jazz club in Chicago. The improv moments toward the end of Willow Weep for Me and the nod to Ella Fitzgerald in the final song were quite amusing. It was also nice to hear another interpretation of Thou Swell, which I only knew in Betty Carter's fast version (and which, to be fair, I still prefer).

Such a great intro to the live performance in the beginning of the album. Amazing singer and sometimes a bit forgotten amongst other great names of the same era, like Billie Holiday. Highly recommended.

Sarah Vaughan has one of the most beautiful and versatile voices I have ever heard. This album is perfect down to the vocals, the accompaniment, and her natural humor. I absolutely adore this artist and this album.

Usually not a fan of live albums but on this one the ambient noise only adds to the experience.

Épico 😎👌

Did listen. Loved.

Nice jazz

Awesome

kind of boring!

Why is every album from the 50s so good!? This has a despicably good vibe holy shit. 5

Jazzy as fuck 10/10

great album the vocals sound a little weird at times but the jazz is just awesome 9/10

1957 - Vocal Jazz

New one for me, though I think I recognise Willow Weep For Me. Really enjoyable and, like The Who's Live at Leeds, the live album gets across how much fun Vaughan is having. Incredible voice. Will play again. I must check whether she is touring the UK any time soon...

The chillest way to start the day. Beautiful.

Ya like jazz? I like jazz.

I was impressed.

30. De certa forma, todos nós fomos hoje, entre o fumo e os chapéus de coco, artistas registados da Mercury Recordings. MotA: Willow Weep For Me "The leaves of brown came tumbling down"

Lo que más me gustó de este disco es como te posiciona en un club chiquito en los 50’s. No hay nada mas que decir. Es jazz y es en vivo, no falla casi nunca.

I’m in love

Very nice!

That was quite enjoyable. I liked her voice, and I liked the smoothness of it. I mean, this is sort of where the idea of “smooth” jazz came from, right?

What. A. Voice.

Lovely

Relaxing listen

This was unbelievably smooth. Mental that it was recorded in the late 50s as the production level was so high. Would love to own this on vinyl

Sarah Vaughan - amerikkalainen ikoni ja jazz-legenda, minulle täysin tuntematon nimi. Samoin kuin jazz genrenä minulle jokseenkin täysin vieras. Mutta olipahan kuuntelukokemus! Mikä ääni ja vieläpä livetaltiointi! Menee kylmät väreet kuunnelessa. Vaikka genre on mukavuusalueen ulkopuolella, aiheuttaa laulu tunnereaktioita ja tarpeen pysähtyä musiikin äärelle ja olla tekemättä mitään. Ja se on hieno tunne se! Vahva 4/5. Ei ihan täysiä pisteitä lähinnä siksi, että en vaan ymmärrä jazzin hienoutta mutta upean laulun ymmärrän. 4/5

I appreciate when live recordings like this maintain that live feeling that makes them so appealing to listen to. There's a funny moment on Willow Weep For Me where the band keeps playing past when the song was supposed to end, so Vaughan starts improvising lyrically. On the closing track, she admits she doesn't know the words to the song but promises to sing it "all crazy" like Ella Fitzgerald does. Moments like this give this album a lot of personality and a warm, lived in quality that studio recordings often miss. That sort of looseness lends itself well to jazz in particular. Beyond these sillier moments, the thing that most exemplifies this quality is Vaughan's singing. She's clearly a trained and talented singer, but there's a rawness to her performance that really brings these very mellow songs to life.

It's not very often you get such an appropriate opportunity to review an album on such a grey and dreary day. This kind of album will put a full ashtray and typing machine on your desk, a fedora on your head and suspenders on your shoulders and turn your surroundings into greyscale. Still, it's jazz, and even though this dame is excellent, it's a tough case to crack. One that haunts ya while you're trying to sleep, while you're pouring yourself a bourbon neat - your soul is already cold enough. Still, after listening to this I doubt you'll say beat it to this toots and reconsider the rocks for this might warm an old private eye's heart yet.

Liked it. 8/10. Appreciate such a wonderful live recording from the fifties. Good voice. Great bass line.

Simple, classic jazz….👌🏾

Love it.

Ännu en otrolig sångerska. Lite slow jazz där rösten tar störst plats.

++: September In The Rain, Willow Weep for Me, Just One of Those Things, Thou Swell, Stairway to the Stars, Honeysuckle Rose, How High the Moon +: Be Anything But Darling Be Mine, Just a Gigolo 8,8/10

Sparkling, joyous, wonderful singing. I wish I couldn’t been there.

Voice like velvet, artisanally made film noir nightclub music

aivan mukavaa ja svengaavaa. ja taitavaa musisointia. oon se lisa simpson tanssii -gif

Sarah Vaughan on omia lemppareita jazz-laulajista ja tällä levyllä oleva trio on kyllä kokonaisuudessaan ihan huikee! Todella makeita biisejä, ei menny muut ku How High the Moon puhkikukutettujen stankkujen osastoon ja sekin oli just sopivan humoristinen versiointi. Moottoritiellä kuunneltavaksi tää ei kuitenkaan ollu ihan paras, joten muutamat biisit pitää vielä kuunnella vähän rauhallisemmassa ympäristössä :-)

Good listen. I still prefer Ella, Etta and Aretha to her, but it is still very very good. Her voice is undeniable and the fact that she messes up and they still left it in just shows how much fun they were having. 7.5/10 Top song... How high the moon

Loved it

Loved the album. Sarah Vaughn was always over-shadowed by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, but she had some pipes as well.

I can picture myself in that nightclub. If I was alive then and in attendance I would have enjoyed and thought I got my monies worth. I would listen to again gladly

Liked this one a lot, great vibes. Vaughn and the band captures the fact that music should be fun, it’s brought me back to New Orleans prev hall. Not to mention the whole experience oozes with soul.

Such a wonderful concert. It’s fitting to listen to September in the Rain today

Not the biggest fan of live albums, but I managed to still enjoy it. Recording quality's better than I'd expect out of 1957. Instruments are a bit dead though.

She’s really wonderful, it’s nice to hear her interacting with the band. I’m very obsessed with jazz vocals as that’s what I studied at school and I really prefer billie holiday and ella Fitzgerald as they’re more playful, but there’s no denying that Sarah is a queen

ライブアルバムで、主役がヴォーカルとピアノであることがとてもわかりやすいアルバム。 ライブのアルバムだから拍手とかおじさんの声とかが入ってんのも良さを際立ててるのかもしれない。 ヴォーカルが入ってるタイプのジャズはヴォーカルにだいぶ左右されると思いました。まあ歌上手いからOK！

Going into this I tried to set the mood by having Rainy Mood playing in another tab to get me in the right frame of mind. I feel I couldn't get the full effect unless I was in a suit and a trilby, with a cigar in one hand and some whisky in the other. If I had time to prepare I would have tried to do it.

Enjoyed this one I hope there are more jazz singers in the list Sarah has such a great voice and the music is so relaxing and as a live album I was very surprised it sounded so good

Simply beautiful. Plainly, obviously so. Vaughan’s voice is at times incomparable in pure beauty and smoothness. Her vocal indentations are incredible, as is her vibrato, and silky deeper register. The songs themselves, well I could take them or leave them, but the way that they’re played, by the band, with those touches of cool jazz and bop, and the way that Vaughan sings them, which it should be obvious by now is practically unparalleled in the pantheon of vocal jazz songstresses, elevates them to a whole other level. Also, it’s not at all too long. Only 35 minutes, it’s a really great length for an album like this. All of these things put together makes it an absolutely wonderful album. 9.2/10 DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES REASON: Exposure to great live performances, by one of the best singers ever

lovely little stripped back jazz set

I really liked, am a fan of jazzy music. Especially the live versions bring so much soul and feel to the songs. The band is fire btw. Couldn’t listen to the whole album at once but still very much enjoyed.

Really enjoyed this one just chilling in the living room. I might have rated it lower had I heard it some other day. It's not very memorable though.

morning music

Gorgeous voice.

Hard to believe this was around 70 years ago, doesn't feel very dated at all

Live album. And she absolutely nails it from the first word, impressive! Brilliant vocal control, listen to those tremolos! Funny fluff and good save in Willow Weep for Me I quite like her voice, between Ella Fitzgerald and Amy Winehouse And i like the jazzy backing on Honeysuckle Rose Best track - September in The Rain (excusing the wordy intro), Just One Of Those Things, Honeysuckle Rose 4 stars - I like the songs, production is great for the time, classy, humourous, superb delivery

I love when I discover jazz artist. This is going to be so good.

JL : 4, Thou Swell

loved this surprisingly!

A really pleasant jazzy feel, it's soft and loungey but not boring

Great atmosphere. Surprised I’ve not heard of this singer

This album makes me feel like everything is gonna be sooo fine. I envision myself at peace, on a cloudy morning in some cool apartment. Feel like im in a Notting Hill type movie with an oversized mans shirt on, filling a cafetière of coffee and making pancakes while reading the newspaper. Gentle and tender as fuck. There is something about jazz that is just mmmmm mmmm yeah. Its so old timey it makes me feel like im having a hug from an old lady. Oh to be in this jazz bar mannnnn I should play this in my Budapest apartment in the morning. Nothing can feel bad with an album like this.

My first 50s album on the list! Vaughan's voice is stellar - the ambience is perfect for a night of cooking pasta dinners overlooking the river from your window; low lights, steam, bokeh, twilight, "500,000 kilowatts of stardust".

More of an experience than an album, but a very beautiful experience of a night at the blues club for some live music

7/10 As a jazz enjoyer, rather than aficionado, I had heard the name Sarah Vaughan before, but never knowingly heard her output. This recording dates back almost 69 years to the day from when I’m listening and for a live recording for that era, sounds excellent. The band are a bit quiet in places, particularly the drummer, which does have a bit of an impact on the fullness of the sound, and makes the tempo occasionally a little less focused than it probably should be. But the main event here was always going to be the vocal stylings of Sarah herself, and on that front, she’s in fine form. Her control over vibrato is excellent and she even holds off that vibrato here and there which adds an extra range to her vocal texture that I really enjoyed. The song selection is a fairly routine one, covering jazz standards and show tunes, with Sarah even referencing Ella Fitzgerald’s take on How High The Moon, when she discovers that she’s missing the lyric sheet. Sarah deals with each of the songs expertly, with great dynamic control and nuance, dancing between sweet and longing, and up-beat and engaging with aplomb. She even dips into a bit of scatting late on which, while not up to Ella’s superb standard, is still a pretty fun sequence on the record. There are moments when the rest of the band get the opportunity to step into the limelight, and they do it in a perfectly balanced, understated way that shows off their chops, while not distracting from the main event. The strangest aspect of this record is that, despite actually recording complete performances from three consecutive nights at Mister Kelly’s, the 35 minute runtime includes various flubs and mistakes, including multiple instances of microphones getting knocked, Sarah having incomplete lyrics for Willow Weep For Me, which, while dealt with nicely, does detract somewhat from the mood of the piece, and the complete absence of lyric sheet for How High The Moon. In reality, I actually quite liked how much these aspects showcased Sarah’s crowd work, and how much personality it gave the recording, but it still seems like quite an odd choice from the record company. While I really enjoyed this album, and the vibe and atmosphere on it is excellent, the slightly unorthodox editing choices and sometimes middling song selection do detract slightly from the quality of the record as a whole. But it’s definitely opened me up to discovering more of Sarah’s work, and I’ve already taken the time to listen to a couple of her studio albums, so while this isn’t perfect, it was definitely an excellent entry point. September In The Rain - A lovely little slice of scene setting at the start. It’s not the kind of thing you’d get these days, but it sits us brilliantly in 1957 Chicago. Sarah’s delivery is so smooth and deft, and the band swings beautifully in accompaniment. They have little moments of flair as punctuation, but they definitely know that she’s the draw and play accordingly. You can almost smell the smoky room, it’s such an evocative recording. Lovely stuff, despite someone smacking one of the mics early on! Willow Weep For Me - This drifts along in a languid, drifting way. Her vocal is lovely and she adjusts little moments of pacing and intensity to drag every ounce of feeling out of it. Jimmy Jones gets a moment to step forward on the piano and he takes us on a little journey (before someone again kicks a microphone!) that’s very nice, if a little meandering and long by the time he’s done. Sarah also acknowledges that she only has half of the lyrics on her lyric sheet, which is quite funny. As I say, I slice of life that’s very much of the time and humanises it nicely. Just One Of Those Things - And now the tempo pops back up again. This has got great zip and energy to it, with the bass strolling away and the piano jabbing against it beautifully while Sarah ducks and dives over the top. It’s gorgeous stuff that’s got such quality to the rhythm, while the lead vocal absolutely flies. It’s not necessarily the most centred song in a melodic sense, but that roaming, free approach to melody really elevates this to another level. Be Anything But Darling Be Mine - Another dip in tempo now and this is so bittersweet and evocative. The slip in and out of vibrato that she has is pretty perfect, while she also picks moments to hold it back. It swings and grooves well too, with some deft tempo shifts through the middle. There’s a lovely piece of interplay between the vocal humming and the piano later on, before we dip back to the slow groove that we began with. More lovely stuff. Thou Swell - More lazy, swinging stuff. It ebbs and flows nicely and is so warm and groovy. Sarah sinks low and soars high as she strolls her way through the track. It’s got some nice punch from the drums that give things a kick without overwhelming and everything just feels so relaxed but professional and controlled. It’s fluid, organic stuff that’s just impossible not to sway and bob to. Oh for a glass of wine and a dingy underground club. Stairway To The Stars - Sarah’s so laid back here, she may as well be floating horizontally above the piano. The melodic work is lovely, and there are some really gorgeous passing notes that she eases through as she goes. The groove is slow and sultry, but the piano gives a little bit of zip and energy to keep it from getting bogged down. The way this so deftly modulates between longing and hopeful feelings is a touch of musical class. Honeysuckle Rose - Richard Davis is off for a stroll with his bass, while Roy Haynes chases him down on the drums. This becomes a little more melodically disconnected in places, but just when you think it’s drifted a little too far, Sarah gathers herself back up and delivers something that pulls us back to the centre. There’s a great piece of piano solo work here that’s super simple, but executed with panache and a sense of fun. While this isn’t necessarily the most consistent track on the record, it probably also has some of the highlights, so it’s still very enjoyable. Just A Gigolo - This is another track where they push and pull the groove so that things almost feel like they’re grinding to a halt in places, and then things get a little kick and move right along. It’s very pretty stuff and deftly executed. Sarah lets us have a bit of time with just the band in the middle and it’s such a pleasant sequence. Nothing spectacular, but so warm and enjoyable. Another great slice of understated performance all round. How High The Moon - Sarah gives us a bit of wit and charm here, not having the words, but pressing on any way and treating us to an impression of Ella Fitzgerald’s scatting. It’s nice to close with an up-tempo effort that swings with a finger-clicking groove. She roams all over the place having a great amount of fun and there’s plenty of energy in the performance, despite the fact that she’s essentially winging it. It’s an odd choice to include in some ways, but I’m glad it’s there, because it definitely lends an extra edge of personality to the record. Another great little performance and a cool slice of 1950s jazz life.

4/5

Incredible. Wish they picked something else than a live album though

I don’t love live albums, but this album is a beautiful little time capsule. A warm, smokey club on a rainy Chicago night.

This was a great live album by a terrific singer and a flawless band

Really enjoyed, Sarah has a great voice but this album feels very same-y in tone

She has a beautifully smooth voice and perfect delivery. And even when she screws up, she's charming.

Sarah's voice is impeccable, but this live recording didn't reveal anything new that I wouldn't have discovered on her studio albums. However, the little mistakes and recording errors made it easy to imagine myself in the room, and it felt especially intimate as a result. It's been a while since a modern live album did that (I'm sure there's a more recent example than Unplugged in New York, but I'm struggling to recall it). As I believe this is Ms. Vaughan's sole entry on this list, I'll bump it up a star.

Love

Great voice

Incredible voice

I'm a bit Ella Fitzgerald fan but aside from some Billie Holiday have not spent much time listening to competing vocalists of this era. This was a wonderful wee live album and will most definitely be coming back for more Sarah after this.

En helt fin Jazz-plate. Stort pluss for impro og humor.

Sjarmerende konsertopptak. For en stemme!

So far so gas 3rd song out of 9! Finished and I love this album a ton, the begining of the live version where they include the "This show is a little bit different, we are putting this recording on a record" inclusion I love. Also this same artist made misty "Too misty and too much in love" (not same album). 8.5/10

I normally don't go for live albums. It was funny having the overview of the live recording at the start. I know the style of singing had to be a certain way to be captured on recording and that's what gives it the extra old timey sound. It was good and true to what I'd expect for this music!

Now this is jazz I get. The personality, the intimacy of the setting, the beauty of the sound. All great! It’s a bit too summery right now to fully enjoy this so I will return to it in the fall/winter.

Love this album. Beautiful voice

Live jazz albums >>> How can you not be charmed by her fucking up “How High the Moon” and then vamping by doing a spot on Ella impersonation before giving an astonishing scat solo? THAT’S a professional; not someone who nails it every time, but someone who rolls with punches when she doesn’t while still showing off her skill and showmanship. What an icon.

Absolutely gorgeous voice. I find her self deprecation charming, when admits to not knowing the words, and later admitting how amazing Ella Fitzgerald is during How High the Moon.

Sublime

Second cover album in a row. This is much better. Lovely voice, soulful playing, human performance. Great album.

1950's jazz/lounge singer. Good, but not my cup of tea

At Mister Kelly’s by Sarah Vaughan caught me off guard in the best way. I’m not usually into 1950s jazz, especially vocal jazz, but this album really connected with me. From start to finish, every song felt thoughtful, warm, and genuinely engaging. Sarah Vaughan’s voice is the centerpiece, and it’s incredible—smooth as velvet, controlled, and expressive without ever feeling forced. There’s a richness to her tone that makes even the simplest phrases feel important. What stood out even more, though, was her presence throughout the live performance. She’s not just singing—she’s interacting, reacting, and bringing personality into every moment. One of the most endearing parts of the album is how she handles imperfections. She slips up on a couple of songs, but instead of it taking away from the experience, it actually makes it better. She acknowledges it, plays it off with charm, and turns it into part of the performance. That kind of authenticity is rare and makes the whole record feel alive. The closing moment, where she does a loving impersonation of Ella Fitzgerald, is a highlight. It feels like both a tribute and a glimpse into her sense of humor and respect for her peers. Overall, this album really surprised me. It opened me up to a style of music I don’t usually gravitate toward, and I can definitely see myself adding a few of these tracks into my regular rotation.

Amazing live jazz recording. One I didn’t know about

Timeless album. Wonderfully unique in its approach For an album released in 2000, it does an incredible job to encapsulate the jazz sound of the 50s and 60s. Sarah Vaughan has an incredible voice she deserves more recognitions 8.5/10

It's a very smooth and cozy time, for better and worse. Sarah is a fantastic performer who tackles these jazz standards with a very smooth and expressive voice, and displays incredible charisma and charm (especially when she effortlessly handles what could have been derailing events such as not knowing the lyrics to one of the songs). My problem with this though is that it can feel a bit one dimensional, it doesn't really make me feel anything emotionally other than warm and cozy, that is probably more of an issue with doing an album of jazz standards over anything Sarah is doing though. It does make for good background music at work or at a poker night. The recording quality is pretty good for a live album from the 1950's, but definitely has a few rough edges. Overall, I liked it

Jazz becomes a unique experience when it’s performed live, and when there’s a vocal musician like Sarah Vaughn, you can hear it the way it needs to be. One treat the listener will get is a song she either doesn’t know fully, or wants to play a joke, so she riffs her lyrics as a surprise.

Yet another live album, but I can understand the addition of this one. Sarah Vaughan ladies and gentlemen, what a voice. The recording quality and mixing is superb so if you couldn't hear the audience between the songs, you could hardly tell this is a live album. Anyway, strong 4 stars for this one.

Surprised how much I enjoyed this album. An easy listen but also a genuine ‘live’ album.

Para una clase de TdC está bien, es chill y no me disgustó para ser jazz, pero no lo volvería a escuchar

Great