Sarah Vaughan

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Sarah Vaughan had a wondrous voice, a dazzling range, and such a powerful instrument that she could have been an opera singer if that had been her goal.

She opened her set from the mid-1970s at Wolf Trap in Washington D.C. with two memorable and unique performances.

First she and her trio perform a very uptempo version of “I Cried For You” (look at how fast the bass player is playing) yet Sassy manages to sound relaxed, as if she is taking her time at the ranging tempo.

The bulk of this film clip features her version of Thelonious Monk’s “‘Round Midnight” which she takes slow in an introspective and sensuous performance, filled with glorious long notes.

Who else could sing like this?

-Scott Yanow

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