Description
Label Review.
Recorded 1950-1961.
Our Overview.
Dubbed "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century. In her lifetime, she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums. Her voice was flexible, wide-ranging, accurate and ageless. She could sing sultry ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in an orchestra. She worked with all the jazz greats, from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Nat King Cole, to Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman. (Or rather, some might say all the jazz greats had the pleasure of working with Ella.)
She performed at top venues all over the world, and packed them to the hilt. Her audiences were as diverse as her vocal range. They were rich and poor, made up of all races, all religions and all nationalities. In fact, many of them had just one binding factor in common - they all loved her.
This release contains Ella Fitzgerald’s complete small group studio sides from her celebrated album devoted to the music of Duke Ellington. Complementing them, CD2 of this set presents a selection of small-group live performances showcasing Ella singing Ellington tunes at a wide variety of venues between 1950 and 1961.Includes 16-page booklet with memorabilia and the original, as well as updated, liner notes.
Disc One, 1-14: Ben Webster (ts), Stuff Smith (vln), Paul Smith (p), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Alvin Stoller (d), Hollywood, September 4, 1956. 15-19: Ben Webster (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b), Alvin Stoller (d), Hollywood, October 17, 1957.
Disc Two: Recorded live with small groups at various locations between 1950 and 1961, featuring Lou Levy, Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (g), Max Bennett, Ray Brown (b), Jo Jones, Gus Johnson (d), among others.
Tracklisting:
1. Cotton Tail 2. Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me 3. Just A-sittin’ And A-Rockin’ 4. Solitude 5. Rocks In My Bed 6. Satin Doll 7. Sophisticated Lady 8. Just Squeeze Me (But Don’t Tease Me) 9. It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) 10. Azure 11. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart 12. In A Sentimental Mood 13. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 14. Prelude To A Kiss 15. Mood Indigo 16. In A Mellow Tone 17. Love You Madly 18. Lush Life 19. Squatty Roo(+ 19 more tracks)