Vocalist Reaction To Sarah Vaughan | Send In The Clowns (Live in 1981)

[@TombCat]

She is a masterpiece. She wasn't as popular as other singers of her time - because her talent and style were not as accessible to some people. Her voice has an undeniable operatic quality. But to people with ears and understanding - she was THE jazz vocalist and the most gorgeous singer. She can go from baritone to coloratura in one song. Her voice is probably the greatest non classical instrument in history. She's not a bebopper like Ella or a minimalist like Peggy Lee - she's a rich instrument. She colours in every note and then shades the colour and then evaporates, travels or crescendos. She can sound like a sassy young girl, a horn, a thunderous storm or a voice from heaven above. And yet, she makes it makes sense. She is kind of other wordly. Her vocal presence is so great that the only reaction can be tears or a dropped jaw. Sarah smoked and drank and performed almost every night of her life - and still sounded like THAT!!

[@Lady_A.R]

They used her singing voice behind some Caucasian women who fronted as a singer on stage and in silver screen plays. This is why she wasn't so popular in the 1940s until she hit up on The Apollo stage. After that all night jazz clubs of NYC immediately booked her and the trio or quartet. I have all of her autobiographies and much of her catalog of songs she sang. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Can you tell how much I loved my Sassie The Divine Sarah Lois Vaughan.

[@antoniobalentawak2599]

Sarah's voice seems to age like fine wine.

[@avogrid296]

I have been obsessed with Sarah Vaughan for so long! She is definitely #1 on my list, and even though I have heard her sing this song many times, I was crying right along with you. She's just the BEST. I wish more people knew her music. Love your heart-felt reaction!

[@jay-lamont]

My mother's favorite singer and I grew up listening to her. I really miss the great Sarah Vaughn. ❤

[@Oakland_California_Gurl]

Sarah Vaughan was my mother’s favorite singer. When I was a child, I used to mimic Ms. Vaughan to entertain my mother. When I hear Sarah, I think of my mother. Last night I had a dream that, as an adult, I was in my childhood home lying in bed with my mother listening to Sarah Vaughan. Today, this video was recommended to me. I don’t believe in coincidences so… hi, Moms, thanks for visiting me and rest in peace.

[@RhondaHill-mi7cw]

The incomparable Miss Sarah Vaughan. Thank you for sharing.

[@awoFalase]

One of the great voices. THE DIVINE ONE. ❤

[@charletholley6536]

She a classical pianist. I’m always surprised that people didn’t know her. I’m sure I am not aware of many artists. Everyone I know listened to her growing up. Our Dads played jazz especially on Sunday morning, Sarah, Carmen McCray, Ella, Nancy were all part of my childhood and I learned to appreciate me.

[@mssuziquzi]

Same here. Carmen McCrae’s version of Summertime is a favourite.❤

[@luminiferous1960]

I had the great good fortune to attend two live performances by Sarah Vaughan in the 1980s. One performance was at a small jazz club in which she was accompanied by her trio. The other performance was in a large auditorium in which she was accompanied by her trio and a full orchestra. In both cases her performances were magical and the audiences were enthralled. At the end of the concert in the auditorium, she was called back for six encores and she received a total of seven standing ovations (one for the main concert and one for each encore).

[@PapaEli-pz8ff]

I saw her perform at the Blue Note in the late 1980's. Our table was directly in front of the stage.. in fact, she had to walk directly behind my chair in order to walk onto the stage.Words escape me.. all these years later

[@luminiferous1960]

@@PapaEli-pz8ff What a wonderful memory. Thank you for sharing that. The jazz club I saw her in was Blues Alley in D.C. There was no raised stage. She alternately stood or sat by the piano as she performed. Members of the audience sat at small tables throughout the club. My table was near the area she and her trio were in with no other tables in front of me. I turned my chair around in front of the table to face her and be as close as possible. I was mesmerized by her performance. I'll never forget it.

[@mssuziquzi]

The sublime Miss Sarah Vaughan. My stepfather was a jazz musician so I grew up listening to her, Ella, Carmen and Nancy. Nothing today can touch those ladies. Lucky me.❤️❤️❤️

[@williamjackson6705]

Carmen McCrae doesn't get mentioned enough these days. She was marvelous. Thanks for bringing her up.

[@gymeni]

Samara Joy is a current breath of fresh air!

[@brendajackson2285]

Sarah is my favorite singer. so glad you love her too.

[@patrickstults3132]

She wasn't called The Empress for nothing! I was SO fortunate that she was my mother's favorite singer. I've been listening to her for over 70 years. She was the premier ballad singer but could swing like mad!

[@cherylrobinson1885]

I had the pleasure of hearing her sing this in person in Cleveland

[@user-jn6bi7mn4m]

Nothing short of incredible!! What a beautiful voice!! Never heard this song by her. I was able to find this live version and add to my library. Thanks for turning me on to it!! RIP Sarah!!

[@sofiahngoran-nguessan5385]

I hear you, brother. She is of the worldly and words are totally insufficient. I wish we had more singers like this. She took me somewhere absolutely divine. It was Spiritual. Thank you for your good work and your Hartfelt appraisal.

[@FavoriteMovieDate]

One of my top 5 female singers of all time. I have loved her since I first heard her when I was just a kid in the 60’s. Listening to this, she’s #1!

[@shannonk.moorer9158]

My absolute favorite jazz vocalist ever. There's her and there's everyone else. Sarah's career and voice can be separated into phases; early period finding her voice; her innovative/ingenious phase; a period of superb artistry; and her later period of mastery and expression. Her aptitude was a product of innate talent, training as a musician, and participation in the development of bebop. Her vocal training took place in church, but she was a musician there first before singing. Although it's possible and probable that her teachers/influencers were formally trained, Sarah didn't receive classical training. She was always primarily responsible for her sound. You should also check out these live or video performances: The Nearness of You & You're Mine, You (soundies) Maria, I Feel Pretty (Sweden 1964) The More I See You (Mr Kelly's) And I Love Him Her live audio recordings are also great sources from which reactions should be sourced: At Mr Kelly's At The London House Sassy Swings The Tivoli In Japan

[@arthurdawson6053]

She sings like that in all of her songs!

[@Cheryl-o4k]

She's number one in my book, I had the pleasure of hearing her sing this live in Cleveland

[@araya52]

Sarah Vaughan is one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. You don't even know where she takes breaths to hit those fabulous notes. She was truly one of a kind.

[@anthonygardner400]

That's one of her many classics. She has been my favorite for decades. I'm glad you discovered her. There is no one better. Period. She's held my top spot for so many years.

[@ellasaraharetha]

I got to see her live in Los Angeles several times. In person even more magical. She was touched in a special way with her talent. Even Ella Fitzgerald said when Sarah died, that she had the greatest voice. Will we ever see talent like this again? Not so far and she also could play a mean piano.

[@vanessa4u4evr]

As a young music student in the mid to late-70s, Sarah Vaughan was who I actually aspired to be most like. I had that huskie, controlled alto tone that extended as high as mid-range 1st soprano. She really helped me to develop my voice into a darn good melodious instrument. May she rest in peace. ❤

[@cybershakey]

I love her too, my favorite female vocalist......and her phrasing is magnificent.

[@buffalmacco76]

"My funny Valentine", Berlin 1969. You will definetly fall in love with her.

[@itsmadfar]

It's a blessing to have one's heart open and respond in depth with tears. This version of the song is stellar. Thank you. And to Sarah Vaughan, you were, are, a song goddess! I just downloaded the song to my playlist. Great reaction!

[@TheCharlieSmithChannel]

Thabk you so much ❤️

[@robertcurry7664]

Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Eckstein, Earl Hines and many other jazz legends all respected and loved Sassy…she wasn’t classically trained, though it’s often said that she could have been a great opera singer…Ella Fitzgerald is on record saying that she regarded her as being the greatest singer of their generation…and the great, divine soprano Leontyne Price was a huge fan too…I think it was Coltrane who said that she did things with her voice that wind/brass players wouldn’t dare try. 🥰🥰🥰

[@dfoster7452]

It was beautiful watching you discover The Great Sarah Vaughan. I hope you dig deeper into her brilliance.

[@theresatitus-lawson3431]

I fell in love with Sarah Vaughan and her voice at the age of 13 (1958), while listening to recordings of her that my parents bought. I understand your tears. She's one of my favorites!

[@lizbird7440]

Charlie Smith, you are such a treasure! I came because of the Tabernacle Choir content (my dad fell in love with my mom in the 60s, watching her perform with the choir, so it’s always been very special to me), but I am staying and watching more of your content because of YOU! Your delight in, appreciation of, and insights into the music you share inspires and enriches my experience. I’m crying right along with you😜 Thank you for sharing your love of music with us and keep it going! You’re blessing lives!!!

[@TheCharlieSmithChannel]

This is such a beautiful comment. Thank you so much ❤️

[@jazzyjones6375]

Very happy you got turned on to my number 1 for 3 decades and is now your number 1.

[@zoesibbald5943]

Her version of "Someone to watch over me" is so beautiful.

[@wintersyve2000]

She's been my favorite singer since I was 8 years old!! So glad you've joined the club!!! And you're hardly a wet towel, my friend! This is the Sarah effect!! This is such a heartbreaking song, and her interpretation is so clearly colored by life experience at this point in her career. Her sense of irony and tongue and cheek and pure emotion is just...ugh. And arguably, there are other performances of this song that are even better than this one!!

[@organboi]

Thank you. No words. Made my day.

[@mcox609]

Because Ms. Vaughn made you tear up, I subscribed.

[@TheRavendearest]

Tears, from witnessing true greatness.

[@EileenSpeakman]

Sarah's phrasing is out of this world, the vibrato is sublime. How did you not know her? I think she was much more my era than yours. In fact she probably pre-dated my era by a few years. As a pre-teen I was listening to music before the advent of rock n roll (Bill Haley and the comets). And Elvis Presley. The "pop" music today stems from the 50s, the big bands and crooners, it transitioned to catering for young people. Talking of crooners...... Nat King Cole. If you've never heard him you've missed something beautiful. UK. E❤.

[@rennedelorean3341]

Ms Sarah Vaughn is one of a 'hand full' of vocalist who's instrument (voice) got better with time/ age, unually it's the other way around! As a very young woman her voice was great, clean, pretty, very nice and on pitch, with time, she gained a tremendous richness, depth, colour, timbre. . . she had these wonderful full bottom notes that could make the stage floor boards 'rattle' and yet she retained all her heavenly 'top' notes in her soprano range . . . she could make her notes 'float' and do things that she never attempted when she was very young, she deserves the nic name, 'The Devine One' . . .

[@jtt6650]

Thanks for presenting Sarah Vaughan with such reverence. I grew up on her. My dad had a great record collection. When my parents had parties at our house, she was always on the playlist. As a child, I would listen from my bedroom in the dark. She sings The Shadow of Your Smile better than anyone. It’s otherworldly, you’ll freak out.

[@LiftingLena]

I first listened to her when I was in University. I realized I wasn’t familiar with Jazz music and I picked up a CD of hers from the local library. I remembered her name from a book I had as a child. I popped the CD and from the first note she sang my life was never the same. My mouth dropped open. How on earth did I not know how she sounded until this point? I have no idea. I was literally like you. Her notes were a journey, especially with her live performances. She’s been one of my top vocalists ever since. She deserves more recognition than she gets. There is a lot to be learned from her use of texture and technique. It’s my first time seeing your videos and I am glad to see this one as the first. I will check out more of your vids for sure 🙂

[@TheCharlieSmithChannel]

Great comment. Thanks for sharing your journey with her. Welcome to the channel ☺️❤️

[@janeseprince2842]

I remember when she passed (I believe it was 1989). She never lost that voice. One of the BEST

[@spadams999]

Magic.

[@pepesoria]

Saragh brings the tears

[@whynot8901]

I know.... she has that magic

[@RhondaHill-mi7cw]

This is probably my favourite cover by Miss Vaughan because it showcases so much of her incredible range and ability to tell a story. There has never been another like her. If you love wonderful talent and storytelling in a more modern artist who is still very young and has the ability to move you, check out Putri Ariani and her covers of Jealous and I'll Never Love Again and enjoy. I appreciate your reactions analysis.

[@pamelajones9471]

Awesome!

[@kicknblock]

Well she was before your time. We appreciate the rare ones.

[@Lyraa357]

Otherworldly. I love your word for her voice. My parents played her music when I was a teen. I always thought this was a wondrous rendition.

[@kemitamenophis3221]

I will always forever cherish that one time I heard her sing live back in 1980 with Count Basie and his orchestra! Can you believe that the great Joe Williams also sang that night! Sarah is Divine!

[@juliejohnson6615]

Bravo!!! First time hearing Sarah....her voice is so mellow and expressive!

[@jay-lamont]

Billy Eckstein or Arthur Prysock next please!😮😮❤

[@lisarainbow9703]

Carmen MacRae, from that same era, will blow your mind--- rich, multi-hued, subtle and understated..

[@TarotMage]

The song "Send in the Clowns" is from the 1973 stage musical "A Little Night Music," which in turn was inspired by the 1955 Ingmar Bergman film "Smiles of a Summer Night." The music and lyrics for the musical were done by the late, great Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021). Originally sung by Ms. Glynis Johns for the premiere Broadway production, the song has been covered by (among others) Count Basie, Judy Collins, Bing Crosby, Olivia Newton-John, Grace Jones, Kenny Rogers, Lou Rawls, Bobby Short, Frank Sinatra, and of course, the incomparable Ms. Sarah Vaughn. Mr. Sondheim included an additional verse for Barbra Streisand when for her "The Broadway Album" in 1985. According to Wikipedia, the song has been recorded by more than 900 singers. Ms. Vaughan's version has been, and always will be, a timeless classic. :)

[@HyperLoop555]

Sarah Vaughan (Sassy) is one of my all-time favorites. Perhaps you can find videos where she plays the piano, as she is also very good at that. I love your videos.

[@phildupuis1084]

I lost it when she went acapella. And you're right, she's not just an extraordinary singer, she is a true artist of song. In my books the best ever.

[@TheCharlieSmithChannel]

Yes, the a capella bit is exquisite isn't it 👌🏼

[@andreprado7298]

SASSY THE DIVINE ONE! The greatest. Thank you sooo much for helping keep her memory alive! On a side note, she was a huge influence on Amy Winehouse, would love to see you react to Amy some time. Especially her first album Frank and definitely her live performances

[@rabrab3]

Complete perfection!

[@cchase5855]

Absolutely gorgeous! She gives chills! You’re right she is on another level! ❤️

[@canocano5480]

She was the best no one now a days come close to her

[@floydfelder3580]

Sarah Vaughan is an amazing singer to say the least 🎶🎵🎶

[@Tallwater67]

That’s was. A master class

[@Aurora-cv5to]

I adore her along with Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Dinah Washington. They were a staple on my mix tapes from the 70's through the 90's. I threw lots of dinner parties back then, and while the evening often started with something like Chic Corea, the music for the end of the evening usually featured their voices.

[@DominickDrake808]

There's a recording of her singing my funny valentine from 90 or 91, one of her last performances very gorgeous. By that time her range had expanded from bass G to soprano Bflat. 😊

[@Gloren50]

You must see her live performance of 'Misty'!

[@TheCharlieSmithChannel]

Already done it 😉

[@retteech]

SHe was known as Sassy Sarah Vaughn. Listen to WBGO, you'll hear some of the greatest jazz music and her. She made a great CD of Brazilian music. A must listen.

[@celiajohnson3071]

Charlie S: I saw your reaction to the first time you heard her & also "Clowns". I too miss her so very, very much. We weep inside, a great loss. I had the great privilege attending many of her performances when she was in New York City. There is no other

[@kirk5487]

Seen these vids of Sass, the Devine One a lot. I react as you do. She is above gifted.....in her own lane.

[@octoberguy]

My mother loved Sarah Vaughan. Part of the soundtrack at home after Mass, with mom cooking Sunday dinner. So glad I got to see Sarah live at Boston Symphony Hall in the 1980s. Great reaction, pointing out all the vocal techniques; this song is stunning.

[@AlBGood]

Beautiful voice ❤

[@monsieurlewop]

For me Sarah's very best version of 'Send In the Clowns' was on her 1981 album of the same name with the Count Basie Orchestra.

[@sheilaschneider366]

I saw her live in Chicago at Orchestra Hall in the early 1990s. She was absolutely phenomenal. She sang this song and it was amazing.

[@patriciacrenshaw5987]

Sarah was singing in some of the largest nightclubs by the time she was 14 yrs old.

[@YewtBoot]

Ella once commented that music for Sarah was more naturally simple than for Ella. If that isn't a superb compliment, I don't know what is.

[@dlbwoodbury]

Thanks for this… I wept too. She lives the song so we can live it with her.

[@quinnfields9531]

Sarah is amazing….i felt the same way when I discovered her

[@kevinharris3993]

Sarah has perfect pitch and the beast of music.

[@paskyta3759]

Hello Charly , I know that Gabriel Henríque 🇧🇷 never stops surprising us, this time he has done a duet with Kevin Vásquez (Kevz) 🇨🇱 a cover of Adele Love in the dark, but in Spanish, it is on the official channel of Kevin& Karla don't leave Seeing it and reacting to this is crazy, the vocal acrobatics that will blow your mind, thank you for supporting the talent🤗

[@photo161]

You must check out Sarah singing Erroll Garner's Misty the year it was written, '54, live from Sweden. Here on KZbin.

[@TheCharlieSmithChannel]

Already have. It was my first reaction to her

[@Timbear45]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@Charlie-rr3vu]

It's because your listening to the descendants of the people who CREATED this genre of music 🎶.....there IS no comparison to judge it by.......🎉🌹

[@okay5045]

Sassy was one of her nicknames she is a Jazz great she had ridiculous range and she was a brilliant jazz pianist as well. Watch the documentary JAZZ by Ken Burns it is a must for Jazz lovers

[@lucky4724]

Straight out of my home state of New Jersey (Newark), i'm friends with some of her family members!! #TheDivineOne #Sassy🎤🌹 Checkout "Sassy's blues", she scat through the entire song!! SSSssssmokin🎼🎵🎶♨️

[@jamespasifull3424]

You really need to experience Dame Judi Dench 'performing' this West End classic, live on stage!! Talk about 'living the part'!! 😍

[@anitadeal668]

nobody had the pitch correct her. what a voice.

[@ibeetellingya5683]

I saw Miss Vaughn at this time in a relaxed, intimate set at the very small club, The Blue Note, in NYC. She sang mostly in her lower registers, often an octave or two lower than in this performance. Her singing was languid, smokey, and resonant like John Coltrane on sax.

[@cdbarnesdc]

Check out her album "I Love Brazil." Magnificent.

[@navigatingwithnana]

The Divine One!!!!!!!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥

[@Lady_A.R]

Nope she was only classically trained on piano playing. This is according to family relatives who were associated with her and her parents. It is also noted in her autobiographies. Happy reading ! ❤❤❤

[@GRTVO]

Sarah Vaughan is one of the greatest voices ever, for me she is number one. Great reaction. You should listen to After Hours. Great album. I read her biography a long time ago, I'm not sure she was classically trained. I think she enjoyed singing. She also played piano. Very interesting woman.

[@YegerHunter]

This is a masterpiece

[@williamjackson6705]

Sarah was an excellent pianist as well. She got a lot of respect from Jazz instrumentalists because she used her voice like a horn. Checkout CDs by her called "How long has this been going on?", After Hours, & The Duke Ellington Songbook.

[@davidhalley9795]

I remember my parents listening to her. I have a lot of her work. You’ve got a host of work from her to listen to….get to now!

[@arminsteinke2301]

As a fellow musician, vocalist or instrumenalist, even with hard work, decades of experience, and talent of course, we only can try to come close to this Alien Singers (thanks for stopping by on earth) like Sarah Ella Etta Carmen Billy .....

[@juliouspulley744]

Man! What can I say. Newark New Jersey has produced some of the best female vocalist.

[@KlausT]

The three all time top female jazz singers are Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Listen to her recordings from the early 60s in the Tivoli in Copenhagen - glorious.

[@faafafineartist]

SARAH is one of my top THREE!

[@raymondperez4447]

A beautiful reaction. Thank you for listening to Sarah. I've been a fan of hers for decades. You should listen to her rendition of "Fly Me To The Moon" from the 1969 Berlin Jazz Festival. It is one of the most outstanding live vocal performances I've ever heard. Just ignore the neon orange lipstick. It was a thing at the time.

[@10lassie]

Great reaction Charlie. With your emotional reaction I'm scared to tell you of another great youtube video. Watch Judy Garland sing " Old Man River " live on her TV show circa 1963. Its in black and white. Its just totally amazing . Thank you .

[@kirk5487]

Hey Charles, you check out Maria from the same 1964 Sweden show. She's more operatic in that one.

[@MelissaThompson432]

I love Sarah Vaughan. I pretty much stole my older sister's record in jr. high because it was the only one I could get my hands on at the time. I mean, I would have given it back, if asked.... Now we have the internet. Then, we only had the radio, the record store, and afternoon talk shows (which is where I learned about her to begin with.)

[@billboth6572]

This is from Stephen Sondheim's musical "A Little Night Music" it is a lament. Sadness at missed life opportunity. I was 7 or 8 years old way back in the day when this was my first exposure to musical theatre. You should watch Dame Judy Densch and Bernadette Peters singing this song as well. Also watch the musical.