Vaughan, Sarah: Sassy (Acoustic Sound Series) LP

The power, range, and flexibility of her voice made Sarah Vaughan, known as "Sassy" or "The Divine One," one of the great singers in jazz. With her rich, controlled tone and vibrato, she could create astounding performances on jazz standards, often adding bop-oriented phrasing. She was a multiple Grammy Award winner, including a "Lifetime Achievement Award." The National Endowment for the Arts bestowed upon her its "highest honor in jazz, " the NEA Jazz Masters Award, in 1989. On Sassy, which she recorded with Hal Mooney and his orchestra, Vaughan offers full solid "Tubey Magic" sound — plus all-analog recording and mastering — without which you have almost nothing. Vaughan's brilliant 1956 album for the Emarcy label captures a solid, palpable, real Sarah Vaughan singing seemingly live in your listening room. Arrangements here are by Mooney, and Vaughan takes an approach that showcases how she earned her acclaimed nickname, the same as the album title. She gives an engaging rendition of a number of standards on this set. Titles include "Lush Life," "Only You Can Say," "The Boy Next Door" and "I'm the Girl."