Personnel: Carmen McRae (vocals); Shirley Horn (piano); Charles Able (bass); Steve Williams (drums).
Recorded at Clinton Recording Studio, New York, New York on October 12-14 &
November 5, 1990. Originally released on Novus (3110). Includes liner notes by Lara Pellegrinelli.
Tributee: Sarah Vaughan.
Personnel: Carmen McRae (vocals); Shirley Horn (piano); Charles Ables (electric bass); Steve "Syco Steve" Williams, Steve Williams (drums).
Audio Mixers: Ed Rak; Larry Clothier.
Audio Remasterer: Andreas Meyer.
Liner Note Authors: Lara Pellegrinelli; Carmen McRae.
Recording information: Clinton Recording Studios, New York, NY (10/12/1990-11/05/1990).
The follow-up to the essential Carmen Sings Monk is a tribute to the recently deceased Sarah Vaughan that ranks at the same very high level. Carmen McRae's final recording finds the singer backed by the Shirley Horn Trio (unfortunately, Horn turned down McRae's request to sing a bit) on 13 numbers associated with Sassy, plus Carroll Coates' original "Sarah." On such songs as "Poor Butterfly," "Misty," "Tenderly," "I'll Be Seeing You" and even "Send in the Clowns," McRae brings back the spirit (and some of the phrasing) of Sarah Vaughan while still sounding very much like herself. This very well-conceived tribute is a classic of its kind and a perfect swan song for Carmen McRae. ~ Scott Yanow
