Sarah Vaughan &
Other Jazz Divas
(Passport/Compilation)
Picture: C
Sound: C Extras: D Songs: B
Though it is a budget line title from Passport, Sarah
Vaughan & Other Jazz Divas is a very important compilation of some of
the most important female vocalists from the early to mid-20th
Century. Especially at a time these
greats are in danger of being lost on new generations, but also because they
are still so great, this compilation runs just under 40 minutes and can go a
few rounds with most current female talent in multi-channel sound and running
on (and into the ground) for hours on end.
The singers and their songs are as follows:
Sarah Vaughan
Hot & Cold Running Tears
Over The Rainbow
The Nearness Of You
Ella Fitzgerald
Dancing On the Ceiling (with Nat King Cole)
Can’t We Be Friends? (with a “special guest”
and surprises from Ella)
Billie Holiday with Count Basie
God Bless The Child
Now Baby Or Never
Lena Horne
The Man I Love
From This Moment On
Dorothy Dandridge
You Do Something To Me
My Heart Belongs To Daddy
Sarah Vaughan
‘S Wonderful
Experience Unnecessary
You’re Mine You
These are all legendary ladies and some of the most
important music and performing talent in American cultural history, talents
abused by a society that hated women and was highly racist in their peak
time. The damage done has still not
been repaired and in many ways never will, which makes one mad. However, it also says that their catalogs
are way beyond overdue for discovery and revival, and that even extends to Miss
Fitzgerald and Miss Horne, who had latter-day success.
The picture quality is very average, but that any of this
survived at all is a good thing, though further research will hopefully find
much more no matter what the condition.
All is here in 1.33 X 1 framing, while the Dolby Digital 2.0 is
monophonic throughout, even when the recordings might have been stereo of some
sort. There are no extras, but this is
enough to enjoy, hear and think on. We
have been lucky to cover some of the works of these ladies before on the site,
but we look forward to whatever any company can come up with next.
- Nicholas Sheffo
