At Mister Kelly's

Maybe prefer the studio stuff.

A live recording in 1957, imagine it...being there, at Mr Kelly's, sat at a table, glass of scotch, toe tapping and getting lost in the moment......in front of you, the most finest of jazz musicians, and most of all Sarah Vaughan and her sweet voice. There's a moment in Willow Weep for Me- where someone drop's an instrument, mic or something- there's a bit of a laugh and Sarah just improvises in such a professional but relaxed, informal manner. Her voice is like you're being wrapped up in a nice thick cosy blanket on a cold winter Sunday afternoon. Haven't heard it in a while, I own it on vinyl, & stuck it on , what a lovely reunion that was. Love it.

So wonderful. Like someone said: the warmest cup of coffee with the coziest blanket on the coldest day.

Otherworldly voice. No other way to describe Sarah Vaughan than the voice of an angel. The album is live, but honestly, it doesn't feel like a "lower quality version of a studio". The piano and the minimal production just make it all more warm and cozy, and as a 22-year-old living in Texas, I couldn't be further from a 50's jazz club in Chicago, and I'll eternally be jealous.

This just really isn’t my style. I will be honest, I couldn’t even listen to the album in its entirety. I did think it was cool that at the very beginning they announced that the show was going to be recorded…funny how far we have come with live performances

Perfection

Amazing. Super cool live recording and a real treat to have on.

I'm sure it was something special in the 50s

Another classic album. Nothing really stood out to me too much but it did sound really nice.

Luminoso, divertido y todo lo que debería ser un buen disco de jazz vocal. La voz de Sarah Vaughan es una de aquellas que te hace dudar de tu condición de humano (como la de Sinatra), y el combo -especialmente disfruté a Roy Haynes en la batería- interpreta los temas soberbiamente. En 35 minutos hay lugar para temas juguetones así como para las baladas (me sorprendió la versión de Just a Gigolo) y me dejó con ganas de seguir investigando si esta formación ha grabado más pues lo ignoro completamente. Un clásico, entiendo, de una artista que vergonzosamente no había escuchado hasta ahora.

I don’t really understand what I’m supposed to like about this. I don’t like vocal jazz. It’s just always the same quiet, laid-back songs with nothing special about them. Nothing stands out. Always the same vocal techniques, always the same relaxed instrumentation, always so basic and unengaging. I guess the vibe is decent here, probably because it’s live. There’s just nothing to like about this besides that. It’s not terrible, but extremely underwhelming. 5/10

Can't really fault it for anything except the fact that I find it boring. Solid performances, just doesn't really do anything for me

It's calm evening music

Deze valt voor mij in de categorie schijtirritant. De eerste twee tracks had ik nog iets van een schildje waarmee ik het allemaal een beetje buiten de deur kon houden, maar vanaf track 3 kost het me elke paar seconden een hap HP. Ik hou er totaal niet van wat zij aan het doen is. De muziek is redelijk laidback oude kroegjazz, maar dat getetter met die stem schopt me tegen het zere been. Ik kan hier niet van genieten. Sterker nog, ik voel fysiek vanalles gebeuren. Alsof ik in het donker over straat loop en een groepje ongure types zie staan waarbij m'n instinct al aangeeft dat het zometeen rennen danwel rammen wordt. Het is helemaal niet vals, maar het is helemaal wel irritant. 'Bij elke noot er zelf drie bij verzinnen' zegt een wijs man op Whatsapp. 'Op een frequentie die een volwassen man kan laten huilen om zijn mammie' vul ik aan. Ik heb hem worstelend helemaal afgeluisterd maar man, dit kan niet goed voor me zijn geweest. Deze gaat voor mij onderdeel worden van de 1001 canon: Sarah Vaughan mag van mij het podium delen met Astrud Gilberto. Knap gedaan. 1 ster.

What made this album was Sarah Vaughan’s personality. In terms of song selection, it was ok. But her voice is incredible and more than that, she was clearly having so much fun, her joy filtered through so much of her music and that’s what stood out for me. This is record for a dimly lit room, a nice glass of red and a few very close friends.

So good!

One of the best singers in music history... at the HEIGHT of her powers... amazing control... perfect pitch... toying with the vibrato... sassy as heck... one of my all time favorite records... FIVE STARS!

Boring

Not for me. I can appreciate her great voice of course, but she doesn’t appeal to me as much as other jazz singers like Nina Simone or Ella Fitzgerald. Vaughan really uses her voice like a jazz improv instrument, and I wonder if that removes some of the human emotion from it for me. She seemed like a really cool person though.

Eh. I don't know. 3/5

I really loved this. I normally don't bother with live recordings but this was so open and intimate, and Vaughan's voice is sublime.

Pitch perfect Starbucks ambiance.

Ok, I laughed when she started singing that they really messed up the song. Once again, Vocal Jazz is a bit better than regular jazz. And a live recording I think captures the essence better than something more manufactured. All in all I think this one's worth 2, possibly 3 stars. Maybe someday I'll appreciate jazz a bit more, but I'm not there quite yet.

Nice jazz-singer album. Perhaps the best sort of jazz. I dunno.

I don't like this at all. I've never liked the rambling kind of jazz that just hints at a tune without ever actually pinning one down. As for the scatting on the final track, nope, not for me.

That's some smoooth jazz, man. We've been on a roll with the live/jazz albums we've been getting lately. But that's just the luck of draw. I actually listened to this one twice: once at work and again at dinner time. It's exactly the type of stuff I'm looking for on vinyl. Perfect for dinner music, or when you're sipping a cocktail beside the fire.

Gorgeous

Just a lovely jazz album. Perfect for the autumn evening where it's pitch black outside by 6pm; a very cozy listen. Beautiful voice, beautiful set. Will definitely be coming back to this one over the next few weeks.

Listened to the expanded edition since I couldn't get enough of vaughan's voice. The entire show plays at a low simmer but it's not that it's dull or flat - the performance is incredibly warm and inviting. I'd say "perfectly pleasant" though that is sort of a backhanded compliment (i.e. "your boyfriend was perfectly pleasant") so in search of better praise, I've landed on graceful. Given the hesitation expressed at the beginning of the album as to how a live recording will turn out, At Mister Kelly's is a relaxing and immersive listening experience. Could see myself throwing this on regularly because it's so confidently settled in and Vaughan & company have such an easy mastery of these songs that when she starts goofing around on her version of How High the Moon, the improvs are funny and refreshing. They affirm how great the rest of the album is, a full-course meal with all the desired flavors and textures. Favorite Tracks: How High the Moon, Thou Swell, Willow Weep for Me, Embraceable You

Awful lounge easy listening jazz rubbish

Smooth jazz, great background

Sarah heeft echt een geweldige stem. Het is een live album, maar ik heb er verder niet echt negatieve ervaringen mee op dit album. Een nieuwe toevoeging voor de dinner playlist.

the VOICE

3.0 - Ok

Rv

Great vocal jazz and love hearing what it sounded like in the 50s to do a live recording

Dette er en type musikk som eg sansynligvis aldri hadde gitt en sjangse hvis det ikke hadde vært for dette prosjektet, Eg er positivt overraska og likte albumet. Sansynligvis ikke noe eg kommer til å fortsette å høre på, men not bad.

Phenomenal. One of the greatest jazz singers ever, period. It's so enchanting to hear a true live performance like this, where things aren't completely flawless, but you get to hear a master adapt and work around everything in real time. She was infinitely charming and brilliant. What a joy.

So cozy and perfect! I loved every second of it.

The Good: We get some SrV!!! The Bad: It’s a different kind of blues... The Ugly: It seems that we need a script to hang at Mister Kelly’s If one is not into jazz, this is not your album. I am not into jazz… Having said that, what is refreshing is listening to a set in a jazz bar, by one of the greatest jazz singers of her generation, know that there is no room for autotune et al… I would have given this album a 4* thanks to the inclusion of “Just a Gigolo”, however, the last track on the album removed that star as I am not ready to listen to freestyle scatting again… Sorry SrV. 3*

I really don’t like jazz. But I enjoyed this.

Great jazz singer never heard of her until now

Usually not into live albums but this one doesn't bother me. Very cozy, kinda Fallout music. Best song is "Willow Weep For Me" 4/5

I really thought i might like jazz, but so far what I have gotten on this list isn't doing it for me. I feel like a jazz singer should have a more powerful voice, hers seems high and kind of weak at times. Feels more coffee shop than jazz club jazz.

Miss Vaughan has a beautiful voice and this recording is phenomenal for the time. Loves the audience interactions and little mistakes. Endearing and genuine.

Loved the banter. Not my style exactly but nice.

Хорошая фоновая, спокойная музыка. 6 из 10.

Great vocal jazz from the great and newly appreciated, Sarah Vaughan. You know what? Hell yeah. You go girl.

I get the appeal, but just not for me. She's an amazing singer with a great band, but I've never liked the sound of those vibrato-filled vocals, and there's not a vast amount of variety to keep it interesting, and that's kind of everything from vocal jazz to my ears. Just my opinion, though. Not trying to bash it, cause people who love this kind of stuff will be blown away, but it's just not my thing

I give this a 3.5 stars, but I find it hard to round up above 3 on this scale, because I just can't imagine it being a great example of even Sarah Vaughan's work. I understand that some of the vocal flubs, forgetting lyrics, is showing the fun and improvisation, but it just feels less impressive to me than many other great jazz records.

Perfect for a cold, fall day. Makes me want to sip a hot beverage.

Really good

Loved it. Fun album

I could listen to Sarah Vaughn all night. Such a wonderful voice, a great album. I missed the days of small nightclubs like this, I wish they were still around. Five stars all night long.

Nothings really hits.

Sarah Vaughan isn’t one of my favourite jazz vocalists but I found this record pretty decent overall. Liked the atmosphere and the spare group playing behind her.

Shoobedoobeblowmyfuckingbrainsout

Sarah Vaughan. Enjoyable. Smooth sounding voice. Good album.

Lovely jazz and a great voice

Beautiful voice.

after the first song, i wondered why she needed lyric sheets. then i understood

Smooth as butter. Great voice, and sounds very good for a live album recorded in the 50s.

Obviously a good voice but I have no interest in the music. 2 stars or D.

### **In-Depth Review of *At Mister Kelly’s* by Sarah Vaughan** Released in **February 1958** and recorded **live** over three nights in **August 1957** at the legendary **Mister Kelly’s jazz club in Chicago**, *At Mister Kelly’s* is a landmark live vocal jazz album by **Sarah Vaughan**, one of the most technically gifted and emotionally resonant singers in jazz history. Backed by a tight trio—**Jimmy Jones (piano)**, **Richard Davis (bass)**, and **Roy Haynes (drums)**—this album captures Vaughan in an intimate, relaxed setting, delivering a masterclass in phrasing, timing, and emotional nuance. --- ### 🎶 **Musicality & Performance** Sarah Vaughan’s voice is the centerpiece here, and she uses it like an instrument—fluid, expressive, and technically flawless. The album spans a wide range of moods, from playful and flirtatious to deeply melancholic. Her interpretation of standards like **“Willow Weep for Me”** and **“Dancing in the Dark”** is imbued with a quiet sorrow, while tracks like **“Thou Swell”** and **“Honeysuckle Rose”** showcase her rhythmic agility and playful scatting. The trio is exceptional. **Jimmy Jones** provides elegant, understated piano accompaniment, while **Roy Haynes**’s drumming is crisp and responsive, never overpowering. **Richard Davis**’s bass lines are melodic and grounding, giving the set a warm, cohesive feel. --- ### 🎼 **Lyrics & Themes** The album is a curated journey through the **Great American Songbook**, with songs by **Cole Porter**, **George Gershwin**, **Rodgers and Hart**, and others. Thematically, the album explores **love in its many forms**—romantic longing, heartbreak, flirtation, and resignation. Vaughan doesn’t just sing the lyrics; she **lives them**, injecting each line with emotional truth. - **“Just a Gigolo”** becomes a tragic meditation on loneliness and identity. - **“Embraceable You”** is tender and intimate, almost whispered. - **“I Cover the Waterfront”** evokes a sense of yearning and isolation. --- ### 🎛️ **Production & Sound** Produced by **Bob Shad** for **EmArcy Records**, the album is a **live recording**, and the production wisely preserves the **raw energy and spontaneity** of the performances. The sound is clean and well-balanced for its time, with Vaughan’s voice front and center, yet the trio is clearly audible and dynamically mixed. There’s minimal crowd noise, but enough ambiance to remind you that this is a **live, breathing moment**. --- ### 🌟 **Influence & Legacy** *At Mister Kelly’s* is often cited as one of Vaughan’s **finest live recordings**, and it stands as a **benchmark for vocal jazz performance**. The album influenced generations of jazz vocalists, from **Nina Simone** to **Diana Krall**, and is a **masterclass in interpretive singing**. It also helped cement Mister Kelly’s as a **crucible for jazz greatness**, with performers like **Ella Fitzgerald** and **Billie Holiday** also gracing its stage. --- ### ✅ **Pros** - **Vaughan’s voice** is at its peak—rich, expressive, and technically flawless. - **Intimate setting** allows for emotional vulnerability and spontaneity. - **Top-tier trio** with exceptional chemistry. - **Timeless song selection** from the Great American Songbook. - **Live energy** captured without overproduction. --- ### ❌ **Cons** - **Limited original material**—all songs are standards, which may not appeal to those seeking innovation. - **Minimal banter or crowd interaction**—some may prefer more context or storytelling between songs. - **Monochromatic mood**—while emotionally rich, the album stays within a relatively narrow emotional range compared to some of her studio work. --- ### 🧾 **Final Verdict** *At Mister Kelly’s* is not just a live album—it’s a **vocal jazz masterclass**, a **time capsule of mid-century elegance**, and a **testament to Sarah Vaughan’s genius**. While it may not break new ground compositionally, it **redefines interpretive singing**, and its influence echoes through decades of jazz and popular music. For anyone interested in the **art of vocal jazz**, this album is **essential listening**.

Jazz is just elevator music.

Alright, not really my style of music, but it was ok

Very smooth and fun jazz record that has classic live elements such as banter with the crowd and applause. A very enjoyable listen from front to back.

Easy listening, she has a beautiful voice

I found some songs interesting but overall, probably won’t listen again.

Not a fan of live albums, but Lord, am I obsessed with her voice. 100/10

Very peppy smooth jazz. All good

A fantastic live set. The last track in particular is a delight.

What a great voice Sarah Vaughn had. The backing band is excellent as well in this love recording. Willow Weep For Me has a great candid moment where it sounds like something drops or falls making a sound thud that the audience finds amusing and Vaughn comments on at the end of the track. It comes across as very unpretentious. Solid vocal jazz!

There's a lot of live albums on this list aren't there? You can close your eyes and put yourself in the room, but that doesn't mean its particularly memorable.

Jazz is way too sexy for a workplace! Too sexy for the workplace but perfect music to focus too at the same time. The production and clarity of her vocals is really impressive for this being 1957. Great playing and singing all around. Amazing improvising/skat-style singing. My grandpa probably loves this.

Of course amazing music and vocal, but these are again "just" the jazz standards for me ...

3.5

Excellent album

What a voice! Five stars.

I wasn’t born in 1913. That’s on me.

Never listened to Sarah Vaughan before, she's great! Loving the candid energy, the "mistakes", very fun! Great album to have on while working, so pleasant. This would be a great album to put on while cooking.

I love this era and genre. Her vibrato is slightly overdone at times or this would be a 5.

Pure smoothness. Like a nice cold pint next to a fireplace in the winter. A live album sounding a lot like a studio recording is incredibly impressive

I don't know. I really like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Sarah Vaughan I never got into, and this album did not change that opinion.

Smooth, loved the intro of the live record, didn’t listen super closely but very nice atmospheric music

"we'd appreciate if you'd act normally as you would." How frickin cool is it to drop that on your audience when live recording was such a new thing. Here's the thing, unlike a lot of live albums, this is great! Great vocals and some jazzy piano and other backing instruments makes me feel like Winter holidays in a big city.

Lovely voice and fun performance! I enjoyed how novel the idea of recording a live performance was to the audience. This music is timeless

For starters, this is just beautiful music. There's a certain sparseness that I loved, and such understated control over the music by everyone involved. I had mixed feelings about the mess ups - the improv on willow weep for me was fun, but it didn't work for me in the last number. And it strangely lacked more of a live music energy. A harsher view might be that there was just a determination to make an album at Mister Kelly's, so they went and did it - and it is great because of the extraordinary abilities of everyone involved, but they weren't excited to be performing in front of a live audience...they had a job to take care of. Maybe too harsh, and that only dampened the experience slightly for me.

Nice chill afternoon music, great voice, couple of fun live moments.

I’m sure you had to be there. Three stars.

Heard of Sarah Vaughan, never listened to her. What a talent. The old live albums are great because you get to heard the interplay with the audience and get a taste of the artist’s personality.

Nope

Good voice. Didn’t like the recording.

I can appreciate a good female crooner hitting her notes in front of a live audience.

Moi aussi j'ai un faible pour Billie Holiday. /// Je n'avais pas vu le retour de wineboy et son message. Bon retour wineboy! J'ai compris en décalage que c'était à JF wineboy que la demande s'adressait et non à JF jeanjean. Moi aussi je serait intéressé à connaître tes suggestions.

Ma chanteuse jazz "classique" préférée avec Billie Holiday. C'est comique les petites blagues qu'elle fait sur Willow the weep et sur How high the moon. Par contre, je trippe moins sur le chant jazz que l'instrumental, ça limite quant à moi beaucoup la palette de saveurs en général. /// Oups je parlais de vino pour le millésime! Mais suggestions musicales notées ++!

Chérie, tamise les lumière, verse toi un verre de vin, je t'ai fait un beau repas romantique pendant qu'on écoute du smooth jazz.

Good stuff

Good for what it is, just not my thing.

Cozy but not really my thing. Objectively very talented

Great voice paired with a great band. It’s hard to go wrong with that. 4/5

This was just very pleasant. Not really my cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Already reviewed, pretty cool for a live album

Fun older album that feels perfect for a chilly fall day. Sarah Vaughan has a great voice, and I enjoyed some of the live aspect of the recording.

Decent background music!

Why not put a studio album on here?

Incredible voice! Appreciated all of the banter as well. :)

Enjoyed

A little too musically and slow for me just a tad

Haven't heard of Sarah before. It's a perfectly fine album but sadly I'm not a big fan of this jazzy style. It makes me sleepy 2/5

Solid jazz in a live setting

I really liked the incorporation of the audience. It made me appreciate how the crowds of live albums done in arenas don’t really have personality; they just exist to incorporate the roar of the crowd.

Great jazz!

Nope, sorry, I listened to it in is entirety and did not enjoy. I get the warm hug analogies and she's got a warm voice and all that. But I'm autistic and I don't really enjoy hugs and a half hour hug is just torture. The last song I couldn't wait for it to finish.

Yeah really good - not my bag, but enjoyable and an excellent performance. Worked really well as an album as well, despite being live.

Jazz album - this one wasn't for me.

Not my genre of choice

From the lazy rhymes to the put on sexyness. This album is a scat break away from a crime.

Personally, this ain’t really my cup of tea of jazz music but if I need to rate it truthfully and personally… all the songs just sound the same to me just old jazz music But still, it gives off a nostalgic feeling towards me like I’m watching an old movie or show as a kid lol Like I said all of the songs sound the same to me but if I had to choose a song I liked, I’ll say “Stairway To The Stars” I quite enjoyed the piano on that song! overall it’s a good album if you like jazz

GORGEOUS and MESMERISING voice. sarah vaughan is so captivating. always like a live album as well

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

I‘m not a great fan of jazz, so I stay neural

I didn’t really gel with this

Well i just really don't give a darn.

Love Sarah Vaughan but did not care much for this live album. Not a lot of her best standards and the sound quality was not the best.

Best thing about this album is it’s short.

Feels like something I'd hear on a cruise ship nowadays.

This was such a soulful album. Very warm.and comforting.

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

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

Beyond gorgeous chill jazz vibes, it's a 4 streak

Aight

3 1/2 stars Very good. I need to listen to more Sarah Vaughan.

I wanna be the bar drinking dirty martinis

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

#130/1001. Didn’t really get in to this album, don’t know why since Sarahbis on the top of Jazz singers and jazz is always a welcome change for all the guitar based macho scheisse on this list. Someone else said this is the only Vaughan album on the list? Wtf. For that alone the rationg goes up.

Wow what an amazing voice Live recording goes hard 4/5

Музыка для пенсии.

Relaxing and smooth jazz. That is all.

An excellent voice and a great band bringing a very human performance.

Beautiful voice

Cocooned me on 125th

A nice listen for a Monday

She sing nice

In a beautiful bit of cosmic convergence, I happened to listen to this the night I saw Richard Linklater's superb film about Lorenz Hart, the first writing partner of Richard Rodgers. A Rodgers & Heart tune, "Thou Swell", from A Connecticut Yankee, is arguably the centerpiece of this gorgeous live offering from Sarah Vaughan. Never on a live record has a performer seemed so comfortable, so at ease, so in command of her instrument - even when she admits she doesn't remember the words, in one of the albums most honest and remarkable moments. It's like she's been living in these songs her entire life; given that most of the songs she sings here are as old as she was at the time, maybe she had.

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

An ok live album, some nice moments but just a bit mixed. 3 stars

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.

Jotenki smooth en tiiä miten mutta on kuiten. Voin kuvitella olevani tuolla paikan päällä. Tuli ihan joulufiilis hihii.

A great document of what sounds like a fantastic night in Chicago circa 1958. Love the roughness of this with the crowd and band chatter, the mistaken vocals, and the general vibe--you really feel like you are there. And that voice. Wow. What an incredible band too. The songs wrap around you like a comfortable robe

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

Allez une nouvelle étape de mon chemin de croix musical, ce fameux projet un peu con d'écouter les "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". Parfois, c'est le pied absolu, une révélation, une mandale dans la gueule qui te réveille. Et parfois... parfois, on tombe sur un disque comme celui d'aujourd'hui. Attention, je ne dis pas que c'est une bouse infâme, loin de là. Mais disons que l'expérience fut... différente. L'album en question est le "Sarah Vaughan At Mister Kelly's", enregistré en 1957 et le jazz vocal, ce n'est pas franchement ma tasse de thé... Moi, vous me connaissez, je suis plutôt du genre à me faire saigner les oreilles avec du Godflesh ou à me perdre dans les limbes angoissantes de Current 93. Alors, forcément, quand je me suis retrouvé face à la pochette de cette dame, je me suis dit que la journée allait être longue... Très longue. Pour ne rien vous cacher, mon avis initial, celui que j'ai griffonné sur mon carnet après la première écoute, tenait en quelques mots : "Jazz vocal classique. Intemporel. Musique de salon." Avec une note de 3 sur 5 qui est la note neutre par excellence. Le genre de note que tu mets quand tu ne veux froisser personne, quand tu reconnais la qualité intrinsèque du truc, mais que ça te passe à dix mille lieues au-dessus de la tête. Ça ne t'emmerde pas, mais ça ne t'excite pas non plus c'est le néant émotionnel. Et pourtant, je suis un critique, un vrai, un qui a usé ses fonds de culotte dans les bacs à vinyles d'un disquaire indé et qui a hurlé dans le micro d'une radio libre. Alors, il a bien fallu que je me penche un peu plus sérieusement sur le cas de cette chère Sarah et c'est là que les choses se sont un peu compliquées. "At Mister Kelly's" est un live enregistré dans un club de Chicago, on est à des années-lumière des grandes salles et des orchestrations pompeuses. Ici, c'est l'intimité qui prime, Sarah Vaughan est accompagnée d'un trio de folie : Jimmy Jones au piano, Richard Davis à la basse et le grand Roy Haynes à la batterie. Des pointures, des vrais et ça s'entend. Le son est feutré, on imagine sans peine la fumée des cigarettes, les verres qui tintent et le public suspendu aux lèvres de la diva. Et quelle diva ! C'est là que mon 3/5 commence à me paraître un peu sévère, un peu facile. La voix de Sarah Vaughan... putain, cette voix. C'est un instrument à part entière, elle a un contrôle total, une virtuosité qui frise l'indécence. Elle peut passer d'un murmure sensuel à une envolée puissante en une fraction de seconde, sans jamais forcer. C'est fluide, c'est élégant, c'est techniquement irréprochable. Sur des standards comme "September In The Rain" ou "Honeysuckle Rose", elle ne se contente pas de chanter la mélodie, elle la déconstruit, elle joue avec, elle se l'approprie. On sent la musicienne derrière la chanteuse, celle qui a débuté dans les clubs de bebop, qui a côtoyé les plus grands. Et puis il y a cette fameuse "irrévérence". Entre les morceaux, elle déconne, elle oublie les paroles de "How High The Moon" et s'en sort avec une pirouette, rendant hommage au passage à Ella Fitzgerald. On sent une femme libre, une femme forte, qui n'est pas juste là pour faire joli. Et ça, venant d'un type qui a grandi avec l'insolence de Sonic Youth et des Pixies, ça me parle. Alors, pourquoi ce sentiment de "musique de salon" ? Pourquoi cette impression que ça pourrait tourner en boucle dans le hall d'un hôtel de luxe sans que personne n'y prête vraiment attention ? Peut-être parce que c'est trop parfait, c'est... trop lisse, trop propre. C'est une critique un peu conne, je vous l'accorde car c'est comme reprocher à un diamant d'être trop brillant. Mais que voulez-vous, on est le produit de son époque. Mon oreille, façonnée par le post-punk, le rock indé et les musiques extrêmes, a besoin d'aspérités, de failles, de quelque chose qui déraille. Chez Sarah Vaughan, tout est sous contrôle et même l'improvisation semble calculée, et c'est sans doute pour ça que ça ne me touche pas au plus profond de mes tripes. Ça m'impressionne, ça m'épate même, mais ça ne me bouleverse pas... Ça ne me donne pas envie de tout plaquer pour la suivre au bout du monde. C'est là toute la complexité de ce projet "1001 Albums". Il nous force à nous confronter à des oeuvres qui ne sont pas faites pour nous, qui viennent d'un autre temps, d'une autre culture musicale. Et il faut faire la part des choses... Reconnaître l'importance historique, la qualité artistique, tout en restant honnête avec son propre ressenti. Alors, est-ce que "Sarah Vaughan At Mister Kelly's" est un album que vous devez entendre avant de mourir ? Si vous êtes un amateur de jazz vocal, la question ne se pose même pas. C'est un indispensable, un classique absolu. Si, comme moi, vous êtes un enfant du rock alternatif, l'expérience sera... intéressante, éducative, même. C'est une leçon d'élégance, de maîtrise et de classe. Mais ne vous attendez pas à un pogo endiablé dans votre salon. Finalement, je crois que je vais rester sur mon 3/5. Mais c'est un 3/5 qui a mûri, qui a réfléchi, un 3/5 respectueux, un 3/5 qui dit : "Madame Vaughan, vous êtes une immense artiste, mais nos chemins ne sont pas faits pour se croiser." Et c'est très bien comme ça. La musique est assez vaste pour qu'on ne soit pas tous obligés d'aimer la même chose. N'est-ce pas là l'essentiel ?

Usually I write a review for each song but I played this album and didn't realize it was over until I was welcomed with silence. I like instrumental jazz but vocal jazz in particular suffers from monotony and sadly this album is no exception. I can certainly put this on for a cocktail party or a lazy evening. But I will not be seeking this out anytime soon.

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.

Fall baby

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.

I fully appreciate the musicianship of this. The piano playing is exceptional. I also really appreciated how relaxed and confident a performer she was, dealing with moments waiting on the rest of the band with a cool charisma. But, this style of soft jazz isn't really my thing. I can imagine it would work better in the context of the 50s, but to me, it sounds a lot like something you'd hear in a hotel bar on holidays (think "Lost in Translation").

59/1089 This was a cute live jazz album and it was nice to have on in the background but it didn’t really stand out to me. Her voice is great, i love the relaxed and easy-going vibe but it feels like something that works best in context not through streaming, unfortunately. 2 stars or 38/100

*Chef's kiss*, mais je donne un 4 étoiles pour le live.

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

What a dynamic, beautiful voice that perfectly fits the skilful jazz band that backs her. The fact that this is a real album, which has a nice interaction with the audience, yet remains professional and genuine.

Lovely voice and atmosphere - but failed to move me.

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

There's nothing like the compere telling everyone to behave themselves because they're being recorded (and that Ms Vaughan will be reading all the lyrics but don't get distracted by it. Do enjoy it. But I cannot stress enough you must ACT NORMALLY). As soon as Vaughan starts singing however, it's clear you're in the hands of a master (mistress?). A lovely smokey baritone and ice-cool confidence pervades the whole performance. 'Willow Weep for Me' has an almost arrogant insouciance, the piano interlude is dreamlike, and the spell only broken by some oaf dropping something. The album never reaches the heights of the first two tracks. 'September in the Rain' in particular has such a great vocal clarity and vocal line that finds it's way into unexpected but beautiful notes. It never matches that again and ends up explicitly parodying Ella Fitzgerald in prosaic fashion. There's a consistent feeling of admiration for her timbral perfection and her charm. Not so much for this as a great collection of songs.

I know some of her contemporaries pretty well (Billie Holiday is my favorite female singer), but I am not as familiar with Ms. Sarah Vaughan. That is unfortunate. I intend to fix this mistake by delving into her discography STAT. As far as the album goes, I loved the banter and club sounds in the background. If I closed my eyes, I felt like I might’ve been there witnessing greatness. The instrumentation is so smooth and the perfect accompaniment for her voice. I’m a sucker for a jazz trio. In my opinion, with standards, it’s all about the particular singer’s lyrical interpretation and voice. The highs, lows, vibrato, subtle artistic liberties, vocal inflections, timing, etc. are what make the song enjoyable and unique. I found Vaughan’s vocal stylings impeccable and her tone delectable. I can’t wait to hear more!

Album 898 of 1089 Sarah Vaughan - At Mister Kelly's (1957) Rating : 3 / 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.

Not my thing and I find live recording sounds distracting, but she has a flawless voice.

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

>> the Beatles

i’d never heard of Sarah Vaughan before this but this was great!! super solid band with obviously great jazz vocals

I like be anything darling but be mine but i was kind of bored with the rest of the album

Probably the best live album I've got on here so far. Let's hope it's the last and we can end on a high. I'll probably give them all a 1 after this out of spite. This is pretty good though. Her voice is lovely, it's well recorded, and has personality that i feel the others miss. Still would have been infinitely better had I actually been here. Like standing outside a party you weren't invited to, looking in through the window showing you what you missed. 3 Stars.

Favorite Track: Willow Weep For Me

Very 50s jazz. Sarah has an amazing voice, a little more warbly than I like and not as dynamic as I like, but still very enjoyable to listen to. For a live album, the sound quality is excellent and the audience is not disruptive, just polite minimal clapping.

Jazz…

Solid jazz album. Bonus points for being live in Chicago!

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

Ooh just got the chills listening to Willow Weep for Me. Fantastic album top to bottom with one of the greatest voices in jazz history.

Vaughn’s voice is like silk. The restrained accompaniment of her backing band is on point throughout. And the sound of the recording itself is phenomenal at capturing both the boldness and intimacy of the performance, which isn’t perfect by any means thanks to a few instances of flubbed lyrics and technical mishaps; but Vaughn even manages to turn the imperfections into something charming.

A live album of jazz and soul vocalist Sarah Vaughan. What really made this enjoyable was how the singers personality shone through. A tight and brilliant snapshot of the time.

A very good album but she sounds just enough like Ella Fitzgerald for me to draw the comparison which isn't fair because Ella's probably one of the top 10 greatest performers of all time

Idk that some of these lyrics are the most innovative I’ve ever had but an enjoyable listen. The last song is really fun.

Listening to this feels so ALIVE. The mistake early on; the authentic crowd reactions, the intro, the banter. This feels like a living, breathing performance captured in a bubble and catapulted through time. This makes me think of every white girl that thinks she’s a jazz singer. This was wildly influential music and now the whole act feels a bit kitsch in the current world. Like a theater company hosting a “jazz night” at a bar as an excuse for the prettiest one to sing and drink too many martinis while the others all wear fedoras. A coin boy’s wet dream. But this album feels like the opposite of that. It sounds smokey, tastes like whiskey and stale beer, and has the glow of the neon outside of the windows. There’s a Cadillac outside waiting to pick up a beautiful woman. The smack was still pure, the pie tasted better, and no one wore a seatbelt.

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.

genuine fun on a live recording

jazz. pas mon truc

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.

Not the biggest fan of jazz, but man, her voice is incredible.

First listen

Very charming and lovely

Nice

This falls under the heading of, "music that is old enough that to me it just kind of sounds 'old-timey.'" I'm trying to imagine if someone said that about music that I grew up with and how old that would make me feel. Point being that I have almost no frame of reference for how this stands out from other music from the time. I enjoyed listening to it. Beautiful voice. The scatting sounds almost...quaint? Would be interesting to spend a week as Sarah Vaughan in Chicago in the 50s.

I know Sarah Vaughan less than Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, so I was glad to dig into this album. I appreciate that it's not stuffed full of standards I've heard a million times—although she obviously sounds great on "Stairway to the Stars," and "Just a Gigolo," and her Ella-esque take on "How High the Moon" was fun. Her flub in "Willow Weep for Me" is quite charming too. Not sure I'll return to this, but it's lovely.

she’s so silly

Dette hadde jeg heller aldri hørt om før, men veldig stilig!

She had a really beautiful voice. I didn't miss anything because this was a live album. If anything I think it improved my impression of the album because it showed how beautiful her voice was. Only criticism is that it is somewhat one speed, nothing too fast or too slow, just showcasing her voice.

This is REAL 1950's live jazz. Not that fake live jazz Tom Waits shit. This album is good in an old timey way. It's cool that it's a live album but it doesn't have great live energy except for the part that she messes up and just keeps going. Clearly these songs are played to showcase her vocals but I would've liked the background players to take a few solos and show their chops a bit. If you like Ella Fitzgerald then you'll probably like this. They are similar but true fans can probably tell you all the ways they are different. I like Thou Swell. I've never heard the word "Lalapalooza" in a song before. Interesting that the word was being used in the 50's by the swinging hep cats. I like Louis Prima's version of Just a Gigalo better.

So loungy and jazzy, this is the kind of jazz I really enjoy. Perfect for Sunday morning listening. It was fun that they kept the introduction to the audience and her mistake in there too, feels all the more genuine.

Brilliant album. First listen loved that!

Ehh... Can't bother to go through this, agree makes me think of fallout or a rickety old diner with 10 cent hot dogs

I love fallout music and this is basically that. But I would prefer actual music from fallout like Uranium Fever, I don’t want to set the world on fire, crawl out through the fallout... I don't hate this but I don't love it.

To be honest, this is better than Frank. But it's still Fallout music.

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.

Started off great, then got kinda mid

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.

Vaughan could sing an autopsy report and it would still sound like honey.

Very lounge singer jazzy

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I absolutely adore her voice - listening to her brought Judy Garland to mind, and it turns out she was indeed an influence: "Judy Garland was the singer I most wanted to sound like then, not to copy, but to get some of her soul and purity. A wonderful young voice." The quality of Sarah's silky voice and dynamic performance drew me in and held me there. And she's funny and charming and delightful. Happy to discover this for the first time.

Old school bandstand. The singing is the highlight by far as the backing band sounds very generic to me. She would occasionally adlib and make up lyrics which was fine for the most part but was extremely grating on the last song where she sang gibberish the whole time. Favorite: September in the Rain Least Favorite: How High the Moon

Good album, very pleasant sound. Was sometimes off key during impro but still very interesting.

Amazing. Great voice Great vibe great audience

Very fun and vocals were sublime. You can feel her emotions through the lyrics but also how fun it was to sing. Lovely.

Beautiful music, just not my cup of tea.

Over the top jazz, vibrato everywhere, why?

A beautiful voice in a rainy and moody Chicago.

Good

What's not to like? Jazzy, well sung. Not mind-blowing, but solid album

at one point she sings “I don’t know the words doo doo doo doo” and it doesn’t matter because her voice is so magical.

Lovely record. I didn’t think a live album from 1957 would sound so crisp and well-produced, and there was a playful tone from Vaughan just having fun the whole way through, even when she made mistakes. Best Track: Willow Weep for Me

I enjoyed the part where she said "I don't know the lyrics" and then proceeded to prove she definitely did not know the lyrics

Has a nice voice, seems like this isn’t her most famous album though.

i looooveeeee thissss sooooo muuuccchchhhhh

meh

Est-ce qu'on peut vraiment se tanner d'écouter d'la bioune vocale pendant une heure et quart? Oui! C'était très bon même si j'étais outré de savoir qu'elle utilise des lyrics sheet. 3.75 étoiles.

Not a fan !

Yeah, her forgetting the words in the middle of a song was such an awesome moment to capture - it’s real, it’s human, and it makes the performance even more endearing. I get that this kind of jazz isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s good. The live recording is impeccable, with every performer having perfect tone and feel. It’s such a brilliant snapshot of late 1950s jazz, being warm, alive, and effortlessly cool.

Was fun i enjoyed the live recorded elements

1958 Vocal jazz

I'm not really into vocal jazz, and apart from early Billie Holiday's early records, this albums makes not much of an exception to me. But I've got to admit her voice is truly impressive and the ambience of this live recording, makes it very intimate. So, 3/5 for me.

She's got a great voice. It was pretty funny that she forgot some lyrics and they just kept that in the album. I could see this being nice to listen to just to chill.

Cool, jazzowy, lekko monotonny. Go black woman!

amazing and worth every second of listenting.

good

Lovely <3

I'd love to have a candlelit dinner while listening to this live. Her voice is velvet smooth.

I'm not the biggest fan of Sarah Vaughan. She is very gifted technically and an important singer but I've never found her voice and inflection to be that pleasing to my ears.

Sounded pretty basic. Nothing stand out. She messed up a number of songs too.

intimate, beautiful set of live songs. I loved the candidness of the album, with songs that Vaughan could not remember the lyrics to kept in. and what a beautiful voice!!!!

I love the silly interludes. You really feel like you step back in time putting this on. I want to sit on the stair bleachers at Kelly’s. The place appears to be long gone, sadly.

This type of vocal jazz just isn't my cup of tea... Zero credit goes to Sarah Vaughan for songwriting because this is a covers album. OK - I understand it was often done like that in the day, but the fact remains that being a decent singer is orders of magnitudes easier than writing your own songs AND singing AND (in many cases) playing them. Interpretation and vocals are good, but I'm not a fan of the same vibrato that ends almost every phrase. On the plus side, this works very well as a live album (jazz is always best live IMO) and I would have very much enjoyed being in the room. A generous 3.

Her voice is fantastic, just not something I would listen to out of choice.

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.

lovely, absolutely lovely. i adored how this, as a live album, became something of a time capsule unto itself. everything about this: the music, sarah vaughan's voice, the atmosphere... just magical. i love music!! highlights - willow weep for me, be anything but darling be mine, honeysuckle rose, just a gigolo, how high the moon

Nice. Probably better enjoyed in the smokey club, sipping an Old Fashioned.

Favorites: September in the Rain, Just One of Those Things, How High the Moon While I do enjoy listening to jazz from time to time, vocal jazz really isn't my go-to, as I favor artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. However, listening to this may have changed my mind and inspired me to check out some more vocal jazz. Sarah Vaughan's voice is nothing short of angelic, and her band fits her singing style so well. The recording quality and mixing is masterful as well, it's hard to believe that this was a live album released back in 1957. While nothing here is revolutionary per se, the listening experience was wonderful and I really wish I was alive to attend Sarah's performance at Mister Kelly's. 7/10

Muito bom

Delightful. Sincere

Very enjoyable jazz

Tried to listen. Turns out I do not enjoy “jazz phrasing.”

Similar to Marley, I enjoy this as background music, but wouldn’t often reach for it. Too slow for work - it’s a very lowkey vibe. Feels like a winter evening.

This kind of jazz isn’t my thing it seems.

thoughts: that was a *very* easy listen. i don’t know that i’d ever heard vaughan before but her voice was fantastic. i loved the little ad-libs here and there across the recording. this again affirms my taste in live albums (jazz ones are almost always great; other genres are a lot more miss than hit) songs: “willow weep for me”, “just one of those things”, “stairway to the stars” rating: 8.7/10

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

Right time and right place this is a lovely laid back album.

I listened to the live extended version and I really liked the bits where she sang some nonsense to cover for mess ups. don't really mess with jazz but had a good workout with this

Okay. Kind of bad recording made it hard to enjoy.

Wow amazing voice. I hesitated for a 5 stars, 4.5. It is like being there, also some funny accident in a song. Will listen again, with significan other better. Thank you Sarah ! (an musicians!)

Delightful. Jazz

Great voice and fun music.

Why was this album released? She's obviously got vocal chops for a fantastic live album, but she doesn't know the words to some of the songs and tells the audience that before just skat-ing (How High the Moon). It's just not a very good performance.

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

*1967 live jazz album. *Very pretty album. *Sarah Vaughan has a lovely voice. *Made me think 'jazz is kind of cool' but didn't make me actually look into jazz any further. RATING - 6/10

Ugh, something about this kind of music cuts straight through to my heart. I almost hate how predictably I fall for it. Just beautiful. (Loved the artifacts of the live performance, like the little improv bit on “Willow Weep For Me” and the scatting on “How High The Moon”) 4.5

Iskreno nisam poslušala do kraja, jako lijepa glazba tho no problem mi je sto sve zvuci isto. Lijepa glazba tho pa se ne mogu žaliti. Jako mi se sviđa sto pjesme crossfadeaju jedna u drugu.

Beautiful and cozy

It’s good but not for me, bit bland

I'm not usually a big fan of jazz, but I like this one. It makes me want to drink whisky and smoke.

Not my thing! Love the singing, struggle with the mix and dominant piano.

An incredible voice. Listening to this made me jealous I wasn't at a concert that happened like 40 years before I was born.

Lovely voice and really pleasant showroom tunes. High 3.

Never heard of miss Sara Vaughan. Which is maybe not so surprising as I have never gone deep (or even shallow) into the well of jazz singers. Her voice sounds amazing in this live recording -- even more impressive considering this was recorded in 1957! The atmosphere of the recording does a great job of capturing a live and uncut single-take. Starting with the obvious: her voice is amazing. She has an incredible clarity of tone and sweeping range that she navigates throughout over her set. The backing instrumentals are, if not as impressive, equally tasty. Willow Weep For Me is beautiful and I love the stage banter and self-aware humor as she accidentally bumped a mic or something mid song. Just One of Those Nights is a swinging number with a hopping bass line. Be Anything But Darling Be Mine and Stairway to the Stars are both absolutely delightful. Interesting to hear another take on Just A Gigolo. I prefer David Lee Roth's upbeat take over this more somber version, but his has the benefit of being the first version I ever heard... Amazing album, live or not. Have to imagine this was a special experience in the room. High 4 / 5.

Fun listening to her talk with the crowd. Pretty solid otherwise. Another high 3.

Great singing and piano combo. I listened to the shortened 35 minutes version because I didn't really think I needed to do the whole 75 minute one I think I got the idea. My favorite part was when someone dropped something and made a loud thud noise on the recording.

She's got a great voice and seems like she has the audience in the palm of her hand. That improv on Willow was pretty funny. Not something I'm gonna go out of my way to listen to, but I will say that he voice had me mesmerized. So beautiful and used it in so many different ways. Some solid lounge music.

Love the album cover more than the music. It is cool how it instantly transports you to a certain time period. Still though I was waiting for it to end after a while I hate to say. Rating: 2.4

To a layman’s ear it’s Ella Fitzgerald. Nice recording, has a lot of authenticity and a great vibe

Listenable.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it ad nauseam, LIVE ALBUMS SHOULDN'T BE ON THIS LIST THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN LIST. Just the concept alone is so starkly different than a studio album that I don’t understand how you hold them to the same standards. Like sometimes live albums can basically be “greatest hits” albums, which feels unfair. And also sometimes the live nature of the event won’t have the best audio quality or there might even be actual mistakes that don’t get corrected. I don’t understand how you can compare that to a studio album where they can hone and perfect a sound. Regardless of my rant, this album was so charming and adorable. It felt nostalgic despite never hearing this album before. The performance was so clean and charismatic I immediately started listening to Sarah Vaughan’s other work. Wildly talented singer, with an exceptional band to back her up flawlessly. I know I commented earlier about live albums having mistakes but this album is flawless. It’s so clean and smooth it’s amazing even on a technical stand point. Now as always, even in the face of immense talent, I did struggle with the slower songs. I always struggle to pay attention to slower songs. The last bit that I wanted to note, is that last song is so adorable and charming, I almost don’t want to find out if it was scripted or if she just kinda improvised that song but it’s literally my favorite song and I’d argue the most impactful song on the album.

Beautiful voice

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.

very fun, love how playful she is throughout the whole performance. made me wish I lived in Chicago.

Love her soothing voice and the sound of the crowd. Some songs were a bit boring and repetitive but loved some of them. She has great character and the piano is very soothing

2- Stars (4/15)

I'm sure that back in 1957, this was groundbreaking music, but almost 70 years later, it feels sort of torchlight desperation.

Great bluesy music.

I’m not usually a fan of a live album but this really works. I think the ambient noise and the small venue atmosphere comes across really well. Last track grates a bit though. She has a great voice and it’s always nice to hear jazz standards sung well

Takie między 6 a 7. Glos ma jak miękki koc, ale jakoś tym razem nie przemówiły do mnie te jazzowe evergreeny. Jest w tym coś uroczego, ale mam powoli poczucie, że wtedy wszyscy śpiewali to samo i tak samo. Piękny to materiał, ale czuję jego zmęczenie. 6.5/10 równane w dół.

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.

It’s good music, just not my thing

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!

This is going to be a unfair rating. There's a lot to like here. Sarah Vaughan is clearly an immensely talented vocalist. The band is understated but brilliant. The tracks are well written and composed. Despite all that I was bored after the first track.

She has a beautiful voice Favourite song: Stairway to the Stars

Thoughts before listening: I think this is bluesy vocal jazz of some sort. Sarah Vaughn is one of those artists I have heard of through most of my adult life, but I don't know anything about her. Assuming I'm right about this being blues/jazz then that makes sense because I just don't follow those scenes. Review: Okay...so I was thinking this was more of a modern artist, but I am wrong as this is from the 1950s. I was correct about the sound though as this is smoky, bluesy jazz vocals reminiscent of Sarah's actual contemporaries such as Billie Holiday and Ela Fitzgerald. In general, I prefer the upbeat songs to the ballads, but thats just a personal preference as Sarah's vocal performance is certainly strong on the slower songs as well. This is a 4-star album.

Pretty standard jazz …

tried to like it but it wasnt for me