Two Video Portraits of Sassy Sarah: By LEONARD FEATHER:*** 1/2 : SARAH VAUGHAN: “Sass & Brass” <i> HBO Video</i> ****; SARAH VAUGHAN: “Live From Monterey”: <i> Sony Video</i>

That there was more to Sarah Vaughan than met the ear is vividly recalled in these videos from her later years. Taped live at Storyville Jazz Hall in New Orleans, the 1986 “Sass & Brass” (60 minutes) recaptures her special rapport with the audience, along with the facial gestures--now coy and self-mocking, now commandingly intent.

Among the opening songs with her regular trio, “Send in the Clowns” stands out as it did every time she reduced each audience to spellbound silence. The trumpet interludes that follow, with Don Cherry somewhat incoherent, Al Hirt a mite pretentious and Maynard Ferguson doubling as vocalist on “I Can’t Get Started,” find nobody in peak form, but Vaughan reappears to join her old friend Dizzy Gillespie for a wordless treatment of “ ‘Round Midnight.” With Herbie Hancock, Chuck Mangione and the other trumpeters, the informal session winds up in two Vaughan & Co. scat forays, a blues and “Take the A Train.”

“Live From Monterey” (60 minutes) is more cohesive, with an even greater version of “Send in the Clowns,” fine trio backing (Mike Wofford, Andy Simpkins, Harold Jones) and a wordless treatment of the Ivan Lins song “The Island.” Joe Williams takes over for two numbers (not three as listed), with an all-star band (Clark Terry, Mundell Lowe, Hank Jones, George Bohanon, Shelly Manne). Visuals include Monterey land- and seascapes while Vaughan bops her way through “Autumn Leaves.”

In retrospect, what we sometimes captiously viewed as Vaughan’s visual mannerisms seem posthumously like another aspect of her singularly alluring way with an audience. These are priceless souvenirs.

***: DAVE GRUSIN, LEE RITENOUR, ET AL “GRP Live in Session” GRP Video

This retrospective (1985) sampler of GRP talent comprises 55 minutes and nine tunes, including three each written by Grusin and Ritenour. With Grusin and Larry Williams on various synthesizers, the appeal to the fusion audience is strong. Guests include Ivan Lins, whose Portuguese version of “The Island” is an anticlimax after Sarah Vaughan’s sublimation--even though he composed it--and the pre-diet Diane Schuur, whose “Rev. Lee” in her Aretha Franklin mode finds her repeating the phrase “Do it to me” 16 times. Ritenour’s guitar has some startling Bach-like moments on “The Rit Variations.” It’s a generally pleasant, rarely memorable set.

*** CHICK COREA ELEKTRIC BAND “Inside Out” GRP Video

Producer-director Ed Libonati made a strong pitch called “Visual Values” here. While Corea’s quintet plays four original works (the last of which is a four-part suite), we see a variety of imagery: five small children miming Corea’s band, urban landscapes, crowds descending an escalator, several dances and an athlete doing back flips. The music is typical high-grade Corea, with outstanding work by John Patitucci on bass and competent Eric Marienthal on saxophone; the video devices offer fewer delights than distractions. 31 minutes.

*** DIANE SCHUUR/ COUNT BASIE “Diane Schuur/Count Basie” GRP Video

The principal point of interest here is the inclusion of two instrumentals by the Basie orchestra that were not heard in the original 1987 album: The opener, “Splanky,” and the final “Jumpin’ at the Woodside.” Schuur has her moments of convincing power, more on the ballad than on the blues, an idiom that seems slightly alien to her. The orchestra offers superb support. It is especially poignant to see guitarist Freddie Green just behind Schuur in several close-ups as she sings his composition “Until I Met You.” Green even has a very brief solo introduction on one number. He died four days after this session was taped, just weeks shy of his 50th anniversary with the orchestra; he joined Basie in March, 1937. A high level of aural and visual production was maintained throughout this 51-minute session.