The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In the wake of the sometimes uneven live album In the Moment, Diane Reeves returns in exceptional form with a concept album, The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan. A tribute to one of jazz's legendary heroines, The Calling catches the many moods of the singer who became known simply as Sassy, delving into songs the jazz great popularized, including "Lullaby of Birdland" and "Send in the Clowns." On "Lullaby," Reeves summons Sassy's ghost with familiar phrasing and a majestic, powerful delivery. But it is on the lesser-known Vaughan numbers that Reeves really excels, making the standards her own. "Obsession" was recorded by Vaughan on her final album, 1987's Brazilian Romance. Reeves explores the emotional vehicle like an eagle, soaring grandly over surging orchestral accompaniment. Reeves then changes mood with an intimate cocktail version of "If You Could See Me Now" that includes a graceful piano solo by Mulgrew Miller. "I Remember Sarah" recalls the self-involved "The First Five Chapters" from Reeves's In the Moment album, but again, the outstanding full orchestra (featuring Billy Childs, Greg Hutchinson, Russell Malone, and George Duke) is so inspired and lush that it's impossible to remain unmoved. Reeves also offers a splendid, bopping, Afro Cuban version of "Fascinatin' Rhythm." Other Vaughan favorites include a lusciously swinging reading of "Key Largo," and a delightful take on "I Hadn't Anyone Till You," with Clark Terry humorously joining in. Again, this recalls Vaughan in her swinging, stunning prime. Reeves is obviously no Sarah Vaughan clone, but by surrounding herself with gloriously realized orchestral accompaniment and Sassy's indelible songs, she both pays respect and sets herself apart. --Ken Micallef

Tracks:

Lullaby Of Birdlands
Send In The Clowns
Speak Low
Obsession
If You Could See Me Now
I Remember Sarah
Key Largo
I Hadn't Anyone 'Til You
Fascinating Rhythm
Embraceable You
A Chamada (The Call)

Amazon.com

In the wake of the sometimes uneven live album In the Moment, Diane Reeves returns in exceptional form with a concept album, The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan. A tribute to one of jazz's legendary heroines, The Calling catches the many moods of the singer who became known simply as Sassy, delving into songs the jazz great popularized, including "Lullaby of Birdland" and "Send in the Clowns." On "Lullaby," Reeves summons Sassy's ghost with familiar phrasing and a majestic, powerful delivery. But it is on the lesser-known Vaughan numbers that Reeves really excels, making the standards her own. "Obsession" was recorded by Vaughan on her final album, 1987's Brazilian Romance. Reeves explores the emotional vehicle like an eagle, soaring grandly over surging orchestral accompaniment. Reeves then changes mood with an intimate cocktail version of "If You Could See Me Now" that includes a graceful piano solo by Mulgrew Miller. "I Remember Sarah" recalls the self-involved "The First Five Chapters" from Reeves's In the Moment album, but again, the outstanding full orchestra (featuring Billy Childs, Greg Hutchinson, Russell Malone, and George Duke) is so inspired and lush that it's impossible to remain unmoved. Reeves also offers a splendid, bopping, Afro Cuban version of "Fascinatin' Rhythm." Other Vaughan favorites include a lusciously swinging reading of "Key Largo," and a delightful take on "I Hadn't Anyone Till You," with Clark Terry humorously joining in. Again, this recalls Vaughan in her swinging, stunning prime. Reeves is obviously no Sarah Vaughan clone, but by surrounding herself with gloriously realized orchestral accompaniment and Sassy's indelible songs, she both pays respect and sets herself apart. --Ken Micallef

Customer Reviews:

"If You Could See Me Now . . .".......2007-06-08

"The Calling is a celebration of The Divine One, as she was called by Dianne Reeves, a younger singer who shares many of Vaughan's gifts: a gleaming, pitch-perfect voice, a multi-octave range, and a harmonic sense that takes her on some remarkable flights of fancy. Like Vaughan, Dianne has a fondness for crossing musical borders as if they didn't exist." ~ James Gavin ~

I share James Gavin's sentiments written on Liner Notes about Dianne Reeves, whose artistry I first appreciated upon hearing some of her most remarkable recordings such as "Better Days," "Bridges" and "A Little Moonlight." Diane Reeves gives a beautiful and sincere tribute to a legendary jazz singer with the most recognizable voice, Sarah Vaughan. A chanteuse-extraordinaire herself, she performs with a full orchestra filled with L.A.'s top studio players with the sublime chart arrangements of Robert Freedman and a Grammy-award winner, Billy Childs, who arranged most part of this album and who also plays piano on some tracks. Incidentally, Billy Childs whom I added lately to my list of all-time favorite brilliant arrangers/conductors in the league with Nelson Riddle, Johnny Mandel and Billy May, among others, has also worked with Chris Botti, Diana Krall and Gladys Knight. His works in this CD are all masterpieces of beauty and style. This tribute CD, "The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan" is one of the best CDs ever produced in the history of jazz music.

Allow yourselves to be swept away by the enchantment of two of my top favorite tracks here, "Speak Low" and "Embraceable You." Ms. Reeves made these timeless gems her own by flawlessly interpreting them in a mesmerizing fashion with her satiny and bluesy voice. "Speak Low" is incredibly beautiful with its Bossa Nova inspired arrangement! I couldn't believe my ears were listening to the most beguiling version I've ever heard of this classic from Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash. It is definitely my favorite rendition of all-time! It features Mulgrew Miller on piano, a fine Brazilian guitarist, Romero Lubambo on acoustic guitar and Munyongo Jackson on percussion. A classic of a gem from George and Ira Gershswin "Embraceable You" is also an ear-candy track where you could hear the creative talent of one of the finest guitarists in the jazz scene today, Russell Malone.

Ms. Reeves dazzles as she sings George Shearing's masterpiece, "Lullaby of Birdland" showcasing her knack for scatting. Ditto with a passionate and charming performance on Stephen Sondheim's "Send In The Clown," and an upbeat and zesty gem from the Gershwin Brothers, "Fascinating Rhythm." And not to mention a new favorite song of mine which is rarely-recorded but Ms. Reeve made it so special by her emotional rendition, "If You Could See Me Now," a torch song by Tadd Dameron and Carl Sigman, who was also known for his enduring hit songs "Ebb Tide," "Answer Me," "Arrivederci Roma" and "It's All In The Game."

"If you could see me now
You'd know how blue I've been
One look is all you'd need
To see the mood I'm in
And perhaps then you'd realize
I'm still in love with you

If you could see me now
You'd find me being brave
And trying awful hard
To make my tears behave
But that's quite impossible
I'm still in love with you

You happen my way
On some memorable day
And the month will be May for a while
I'll try to smile
But can I play the part
Without my heart behind the smile

The way I feel for you
I never could disguise
The look of love
Is written plainly in my eyes
And I think you'd be mine again
If you could see me now."

Ms. Reeves shows off her songwriting talent in "I Remember Sarah," which she co-wrote with Billy Childs. It has been said that she just sat on the piano with Mr. Childs and made up the lyrics spontaneously.

According to Dianne Reeves: "Making this CD is a fulfillment of a dream born when I first heard Sarah Vaughan as a teenager. The dream continued to grow as I marveled at her magical touch with lyrics, melodies, harmonies and timbre."

She may not be another Sarah Vaughan for I believe that Sarah was Sarah, and Dianne is Dianne, but Ms. Reeves did an excellent job with this tribute to her musical hero. Both have the most alluring voices and exceptional singing styles of their own.

This CD deserves more than five stars and it is an enchanting addition to your collection. A must-have for jazz lovers.

Soaring and splendid!.......2007-04-18

This album makes me dream... of performing with a glorious symphony orchestra, of conveying freedom and unrestrained joy with the human voice, of hunkering down in a recording studio with Billy Childs, Mulgrew Miller and all those other bad cats and creating a work of art as fine as this album. Dianne's singing is magnificent and moving. Two tracks stand out for me: Obsession and If You Could See Me Now. I love her improvisations--I'm not sure scatting is the right word, as Reeves has always had a unique approach to jazz improv that probably rubs some aficionados the wrong way. But I'm surprised that the Amazon review knocks her emotional power--it's all there!

Simply fantastic.......2006-11-07

I listened to this CD over and over when I first got it. The combined high level of artistry and entertainment value is downright inspiring. Billy Childs is now one of my favorite arrangers (sorry, I just had never heard of him before this. Shameful, I know). The ONLY reason I didn't give this five stars is that there are just a couple tracks that I tend to skip over more often than listen to (I'll let the listener judge for themselves).

What a great cd.......2006-01-27

I am not a big fan of Sarah but, this is great. Reeves sounds great, music is outstanding on my bose sound deck. Reeves stay true to herself on this one. I am glad she did this. THis is a must have, I can see why she won a Grammy for this cd.

Sassy Would Be Proud.......2004-07-13

I can't possibly imagine why anyone would want to perform a rendition of classics and fail to make them their own. For that reason alone Dianne Reeves is to be applauded for her tribute to "The Devine One. There was only Sarah Vaughn and there is only one Dianne Reeves. I thank God that they both shared their considerable gifts with us. That said.....I was taken to a new demension by the life Dianne breathed into this collection of songs associated with Sassy. The arrangements were great and Miss Reeves was in very fine voice. I'm sure Sassy Sarah would be proud.....I know I am.

Average customer rating:

The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan
Dianne Reeves
Manufacturer: EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005HS89
Release Date: 2001-01-24

Tracks:

Lullaby of Birdland
Send in the Clowns
Speak Low
Obession
If You Could See Me Now
I Remember Sarah
Key Largo
I Hadn't Anyone "Til You
Fascinating Rhythm
Embraceable You
Chamada (The Call)
Misty

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring a Bonus Track: Misty

Music:

Music

Music