Sarah Vaughan was one of the illustrious coterie of female vocalists who spanned the genres of jazz, big band music and sophisticated pop during the post-war era to provide some of the finest music of their times, not only interpreting the Great American Songbook and putting their own individual stamp on it, but continuing to perform top class new material through the musical upheavals of subsequent decades. Described by renowned music critic Scott Yanow as the possessor of one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century she performed and recorded consistently through to her demise in 1990.

This collection follows directly on in her career from our earlier release The Early Years 1944-48 Sarah Vaughan (ADDCD3251), and comprises the A and B sides of her releases on Columbia during her time with the label from 1948 through to 1953. It naturally includes all her eleven Billboard Top 30 entries in these years including the Top 10 hit I Love The Guy, and features performances with Miles Davis, Bennie Green, Jimmy Jones and Budd Johnson, and the orchestras of Joe Lippman, Hugo Winterhalter, Norman Leyden, Percy Faith, Paul Weston and George Treadwell. In addition, the collection includes bonus tracks comprising live recordings from this era with Jimmy Jones, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie, plus her 1950 MGM singles with Billy Eckstine. Its a comprehensive overview of this important era in her career and a thoroughly enjoyable showcase for her peerless talent as she effortlessly spans the world of jazz and commercial pop.

REVIEWS

“This 69 track three disc set follows on from Acrobat's previous Sarah Vaughan collection, THE EARLY YEARS 1944-1948 (ADDCD 3251), so the label is certainly doing her proud and it is encouraging to read in the excellent accompanying booklet that Acrobat have plans for further issues of her subsequent recordings for Mercury/Emarcy… This collection is an essential purchase for any admirer of 'The Divine Sarah' and what is beyond dispute is that these recordings demonstrate that in the words of Scott Yanow, "she possessed one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century".”  –  Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 336)

“Card-carrying Vaughanistas will generally applaud this three-CD package of Columbia recordings which include her 11 Billboard Top 30 hits. Sassy-Puritans will pale at many of the string-laden and banal songs (some imposed on her by the dreadful Mitch Miller), but will enthuse over the few genuine jazz-inflected sessions on this 69-track set... As the astute Gary Giddins observed, The Divine One had a “voice that happens once in a lifetime, perhaps once in several lifetimes”. We should rejoice that it happened in ours.” – John White (Jazz Journal Spring 2020)

“Released in 2018, Acrobat’s impressive 2CD anthology Sarah Vaughan - The Early Years 1944-48 brought together 49 tracks which Vaughan recorded for a host of independent labels… This superb follow-up goes one better, a 3CD set which presents a glorious 69-track conspectus of the Divine One's A- and B-sides recorded for Columbia between 1949 and 1953. The 32-page CD booklet includes detailed recording session information sourced from The Jazz Discography (compiled and published by Tom Lord) plus an in-depth essay on the music by Paul Watts. Three hours-plus in the company of one of the most remarkable voices of the last century us undoubtedly time well spent.”  – Peter Quinn (Jazzwise Issue 250)