#18 At Mister Kelly's by Sarah Vaughan

For those of you who read my review of Ellington At Newport you will remember the slating that I gave that live album. The main problems that I had with it being three-fold: the length, the M.C. and a just a general lack of wow factor from the music. So as you can expect my hopes were not too high at the prospect of another live album.

However, one thing that At Mister Kelly’s has in spades which sets it above Duke Ellington’s is sheer unadulterated charisma, which is impressive due to this only being a recording. Sarah Vaughan really did possess this by the barrel-full as she flaunts her practically flawless voice with a wink and a nod as now and then she messes up. Ok, I’m being mean as it only occurs twice (Willow Weep For Me and How High Is The Moon) but the way that she just carries on with such humour and panache really do distinguish her from performers nowadays. You can not imagine Amy Winehouse having the wherewithal to completely improvise the rest of a song as you completely forgot the words. Sarah Vaughan actually has to do this on How High Is The Moon and in doing so gives the song such a great depth of character that really reflects her as an artist compared with the others on the album.

In fact, I found myself looking forward to the mess-ups or the brief interludes between the songs. Whether it be the cheekiness and dirty laugh before Dream or her addressing the crowd as she starts on the closer I Cover The Waterfront. But aside from that I really still need to mention the amazing vocals, for me the songs that really illustrate this the best are the aforementioned How High Is The Moon, where she scats her way through, and I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter. The latter of these may have one mouthful of a title but she never minces her words, in fact it simply provides the platform for her vocals to soar.

I am really tempted to give this a really high mark. However, I won’t for the fact that there are a few songs that really act as filler. While this may not be fair as it is a recording of a live show, as pointed out in September In The Rain, and I can tell that the experience will have been breathtaking. However, with this on an iPod too much of this great night in music is sadly lost with a bit of light editing being welcome. However, not as much as was on the original release of the album compared with the re-issue as I can imagine that too much of the music was lost.

Then again, I can really imagine a lot of repeated listening occurring here. Which is always a good sign, right? Oh heck. I think she deserves to be on par with Lady In Satin.

Great album. Needs to be experienced even just as a means of gaining a greater knowledge of the musical landscape of the fifties.

9.0/10

Fab Four:
Willow Weep For Me
Honeysuckle Rose
How High Is The Moon
I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter