Weekend Music

 

Ella Fitzgerald, "The First Lady of Song," was born on this date in 1917 in Newport News, VA.  In her career of almost 60 years, she's been recognized as one of greatest female jazz singers of all time, with her perfect pitch, impeccable range and technique.  

Earlier this year, Verve Records issued a never- before- released live recording of Ella's concert at the Oakland Coliseum on June 30, 1967, "The Moment of Truth: Ella at the Coliseum."  Jazzwise notes the significance of the concert and album:

This live album marks a particularly interesting time in Fitzgerald’s career. In the summer of 1967, she was in the middle of an especially rewarding three-year tour run and recording collaboration with Duke Ellington, and was incorporating hit pop songs of the late-1960s into her concert repertoire – two of which are presented here for the first time on record; ‘Alfie’ and ‘Music To Watch Girls By’ are both standouts on The Moment of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum. Encouraged by members of The Duke Ellington Orchestra on stage with her, Fitzgerald is both playful and powerful – she cracks jokes with the audience before stunning them with her unrivaled voice.

Fitzgerald’s band includes the rarely-heard but hard-swinging trio of Jimmy Jones, Bob Cranshaw, and Sam Woodyard, while the Ellington band captured here at its peak, featured Cat Anderson, Cootie Williams, Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges and Russell Procope. The First Lady Of Song meets The Duke’s Men — and it’s something to behold.

Here she is, singing the classic 1928 Cole Porter song, "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)."  Hope you enjoy.