A musical interlude...
April 8, 2020 5:21 PM   Subscribe

Sarah Vaughan, in a live performance from Sweden in 1958, sings Tenderly. Range, vibrato and phrasing...
posted by jim in austin (15 comments total) 19 users marked this as a favorite
 
I've always adored her voice. Thank you for sharing this. I discovered her and Ella Fitzgerald at around the same time, just before or after my Dad's passing, it's hard to remember. How strange it is to think it's been nearly ten years. The music is timeless and deserves to be more widely played.
posted by Alensin at 5:24 PM on April 8, 2020 [1 favorite]


Pure genius at work. Thank you for sharing, I really needed that today.
posted by Doleful Creature at 6:35 PM on April 8, 2020 [2 favorites]


Thank you. She was so amazing!
posted by supermedusa at 7:50 PM on April 8, 2020 [1 favorite]


One could never predict her singing voice from her speaking voice. Nor the obverse...
posted by jim in austin at 8:45 PM on April 8, 2020


Thanks for this. Afterwards, YouTube cued up Sarah and Sammy Davis singing a 'Tenderly' duet in 1983.
posted by Rash at 9:39 PM on April 8, 2020 [1 favorite]


I do so love the timbre of her voice. Many thanks for the post, jim in austin. My favourite song of hers at the moment is If You Could See Me Now.
posted by misteraitch at 11:30 PM on April 8, 2020 [1 favorite]




Loop
posted by growabrain at 4:03 AM on April 9, 2020 [1 favorite]


Such a singer! So many colours in her voice. Thank you for the link.
posted by Pentickle at 6:47 AM on April 9, 2020 [1 favorite]


Great artist, great singer, great voice. I will admit that, as a classical singer of several decades, her vibrato always takes some getting used to. Not the speed, extent or how frequently she uses it. Those things are all good. But there's something about the way it works that's... not quite right. It's like there's a tiny little hitch of hoarseness or scratchiness or a catch or something in the middle of each "beat" of the vibrato. It's always a little distracting at first, but then my brain just tells my ear, "Whatever, man, that's the color of her voice" and I sit back and enjoy.
posted by slkinsey at 6:58 AM on April 9, 2020 [1 favorite]


Sarah Vaughan performed at my school in the late 70s. Most kids my age had no idea of who she was, so the audience was primarily older townies. I was thrilled by the privilege of seeing her and could not believe the ignorance of my fellow students.

Her voice flowed over us like the most spectacular silken blanket... it was transporting, overwhelming. And then she asked for requests.

I immediately called for anything from Porgy and Bess, and my young voice evidently stood out because Sarah rewarded me with a big smile. Then she launched into a soaring, agonizing “My Man’s Gone Now” which, with only piano accompaniment, overwhelmed the space and the audience. I have no language adequate... it was one of the most astonishing things I’ve seen or heard in my life.
posted by kinnakeet at 7:10 AM on April 9, 2020 [8 favorites]


kinnakeet, what an experience to have!
posted by growabrain at 10:00 AM on April 9, 2020 [2 favorites]


I saw Sarah at Newport Jazz festival at SPAC once back in the 80s. After her set she asked for requests. Someone yelled out something I didn't hear. She said "Ok great. If anyone had asked for A Tisket A Tasket I'd have walked right off the stage."
posted by hypnogogue at 11:10 AM on April 9, 2020 [1 favorite]


And for good reason!

Maybe unknown to most fans but my Sarah gateway was the Consequences album, and her song:
the Lost Weekend.
posted by Rash at 11:36 AM on April 9, 2020 [1 favorite]


Related: There is the great moment on the Jools Holland show where Amy Winehouse reflects on growing up listening to this song. Jools then coaxes her into a spontaneous rendition.
posted by beisny at 12:40 PM on April 9, 2020 [1 favorite]


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