SARAH VAUGHAN - ¡Viva! Vaughan (1964-2001) RM | Verve Master Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sarah Vaughan's Viva! Vaughan is a curious blend of jazz and pop with Latin percussion, with arrangements by ex-Basie sideman Frank Foster, recorded in the midst of the mid-'60s bossa nova craze. Vaughan is in great voice throughout the date and the material is generally first-rate, except for the bland "Night Song." The orchestra is an unusual blend, with seven trombones, flute, violins, piano, bass, and drums, plus Latin percussion, but no trumpets or saxophones. Foster's best arrangements omit the string section: there's a swinging take of Henry Mancini's "Mr. Lucky," a wild if brief "Avalon," a campy "Tea for Two," and Foster's own "Shiny Stockings." Unfortunately, the bossa nova selections ("The Boy from Ipanema" and "Quiet Nights") are burdened with pedestrian string arrangements that date the music as much as the generally uninspired Latin percussion. It's likely that this lack of focus confused the record-buying public as to what type of music this was and caused it to be overlooked. The brevity of the tracks and the lack of solo opportunities for the strong supporting cast (which includes Kai Winding, Jerome Richardson, Barry Galbraith, and George Duvivier, among others) make it seem like receiving airplay was a major goal of this release. However, the golden voice of Sarah Vaughan is this LP's most dominant factor, and it is worth acquiring. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     The Boy from Ipanema 2:30
Norman Gimbel / Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
2     Fascinating Rhythm 2:37
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin    
3     Night Song 3:14
Lee Adams / Charles Strouse    
4     Mr. Lucky 2:29
Ray Evans / Jay Livingston / Henry Mancini    
5     Fever 2:49
Eddie Cooley / John Davenport    
6     Shiny Stockings 3:27
Frank Foster    
7     Avalon 1:48
Buddy DeSylva / Al Jolson / Vincent Rose    
8     Tea for Two 2:44
Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans    
9     Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado) 3:23
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Gene Lees    
10     Stompin' at the Savoy 2:44
Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb
11     Moment of Truth 2:39
Tex Satterwhite / Frank Scott    
12     Jive Samba 3:03
Nat Adderley / Nat Adderley, Jr.    
13     A Taste of Honey 2:51
Ric Marlow / Bobby Scott
Credits :
Conductor, Arranged By – Frank Foster
Bass – Robert Rodriguez, George Duvivier
Bass Trombone – Richard Hixson
Flute – Jerome Richardson
Guitar – Barry Galbraith
Percussion – Jose Mangual, Juan Cadavieco, Rapbael Sierra*, Willie Bobo, Willie Rodriguez
Percussion, Drums – Bobby Donaldson
Piano – Bob James
Producer – Quincy Jones
Trombone – Benny Powell, Bill Watrous, Billy Byers, Britt Woodman, Jimmy Cleveland, Kai Winding, Paul Faulise, Wayne Andre
Violin – Bernard Eichen, Charles Libove, David Nadien, Emmanuel Green*, Gene Orloff, Leo Kruczek, Lewis Eley, Tosha Samaroff
Violin [Tenor Violin] – Harry Lookofsky
Vocals – Sarah Vaughan