Sarah Vaughan at Mister Kelly’s

My immediate reaction to the album art: this is going to be corny & white. But, 1957, not white. Let's see.

Perfect album for a rainy day at home. I feel like under different circumstances I might feel different but today it’s 5/5.

As a casual observer/admirer of jazz, I was a little disappointed by this one. I was hoping for gold, but found pyrite. Her voice has a nice quality to it on the longer, sustained notes, but the songs leave no lasting impression. Everything is right on the surface.

Great singer, pretty boring show though. She has solid stage presence, but that isn't really what the album is for. For most of it, it doesn't even sound live. It showcases an amazing singer, so it's not a completely pointless album.

I'm aware of Sarah Vaughan, but haven't listened to much of her stuff. And this is my first time listening to this album start-to-finish.

I like jazz, but usually don't enjoy vocal jazz. This happens to be excellent vocal jazz though. I'll be adding this to my list of albums to listen to again.

Unbelievable voice.

Wow, what a talent. I had never heard of Sarah Vaughan before. But she has an incredible voice and a charming persona in her live show.

Jeg er ikke jazz-fan, og jeg begynder at tro, at jeg aldrig bliver det.
Det er jo ikke dårligt, hun synger glimrende, og bandet spiller kanon. Jeg kunne ønske, at hun lod være med at trække hver en lang tone ud med den vibrato-facon, hun lægger for dagen, men det er nok bare mig.
I min optik er topmålet af jazz, når man bare sætter det på og glemmer det fuldstændig - og det må man sige er tilfældet med dette album.
Forglemmeligt og lyden af at tage elevatoren på et 4-stjernet hotel.

2.3.

Even though this is a live album, it sounds so polished. I liked the casual vibe it has, too. Sarah Vaughan has a wonderful voice that meshes well with the jazz music. A smooth, easy listen.

Really nice live jazz record with intentionally-included hiccups for effect. Would I listen again? Probably not.

Beautiful voice but not really my thing

My husband calls me a ham and cheese sandwich, but at times this album was even too sappy/cheesy for me. I loved her voice and some of the lyrics, but the scatting got to be a bit much for me too. I was very back and forth with this one.

Schitterende vocals, geen groot fan van de liedjes zelf. Wel leuk dat het een live recording is en dat je er constant aan herinnerd wordt, voelt heel levendig.

I wanted to like this more, but her voice and the music both struck me as unremarkable. I liked it, though.

Very pleasant one to listen to, would like it as some background noise to a party. Vaughan's voice is phenomenal here too. It gets a high 3, since this sort of jazz isn't really my thing, therefore I wouldn't go seek it out again. But with every jazz record I'm getting on this list, I can feel my appreciation and enjoyment for jazz ever so slowly l, but surely, increase.

Very pleasant voice from someone I've not heard of. Considering how much Fallout music I've listened to I'm genuinely surprised I've not come across her before.

Did not like the scatting at the end.

This album is thrilling precisely because it refuses to hide behind perfection. Sarah Vaughan’s voice is astonishing on a purely technical level, but what really elevates this record is the confidence and musical authority on display. Missed cues, forgotten lyrics, even a bumped mic don’t derail anything. They become part of the performance, handled with such ease that they actually deepen the experience rather than diminish it.
When Vaughan realizes she doesn’t have the words to “How High the Moon” and simply scats her way through the entire tune, it’s not a workaround. It’s a statement. She shapes melody and harmony in real time, swings effortlessly, and never sounds anything less than in command. The trio matches her every move, covering transitions, extending sections, and responding with total trust and musical awareness.
What I love most about this record is the decision to release it exactly as it is. There’s real badassery in letting the flubs stand, because they reveal just how good these musicians are. This isn’t jazz as museum piece or polished showcase. It’s jazz as a living conversation, full of risk, humor, and control.
An easy five stars. Incredible musicianship, genuine spontaneity, and a live record that feels alive in every sense of the word.

Now I feel the jolly.

Very mellow vibes, definitely made sitting in traffic a little more peaceful. I enjoyed this quite a bit, and normally I don’t care for jazz. Didn’t love whatever scatting number was at the end of the album, though.

What a stellar album, very cool!