Swingin' Easy in Bloomington, MN

Swingin' Easy
is one of
Sarah Vaughan
's lesser known albums for
Emarcy
, combining two separate trio sessions from 1954 and 1957. The earlier date includes pianist
John Malachi
(who also worked with singers like
Dinah Washington
,
Billy Eckstine
, and
Al Hibbler
, plus bassist
Joe Benjamin
and drummer
Roy Haynes
.
Vaughan
's lush ballad technique is in full force in "Lover Man," "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," and "Body and Soul," while she scats in a midtempo setting of "If I Knew Then (What I Knew Now)" and her own "Shulie a Bop." The second trio include pianist
Jimmy Jones
, bassist
Richard Davis
Haynes
. Aside from a brisk, miniature treatment of "Linger Awhile" and a playful setting of "I Cried for You," the session is highlighted by a breezy "All of Me."
is in terrific form throughout both dates, with the songs mostly running around the three-minute mark. ~ Ken Dryden