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.

Weekend Music

 

Happy Valentine's Day (to all who observe it!)!  Here's our Valentine to you -- the exquisite Ella Fitzgerald's pristine 1956 version of Richard Rodgers' and Lorenz Hart's "My Funny Valentine."  Ella's version is faithful to the songwriters' original intent, including the introductory verse that's rarely part of other recordings.  Hope you enjoy!

Mid-Week Songs: Ella's Swinging Christmas

 

There are many artists that we associate with classic Christmas songs: Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and most recently Mariah Carey and Brenda Lee. But jazz great Ella Fitzgerald's 1960 album "Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas," with Russ Garcia's Orchestra, is one of our favorite collections of Christmas tunes. That album is made up of secular songs of the season, unlike her later Christmas albums which had only religious songs. Here are two classics, "The Christmas Song," also Nat King Cole's signature song for Christmas, and "Winter Wonderland." Enjoy Ella's incomparable voice.

Weekend Music Threefer

 

One of the greatest American composers, Irving Berlin, was born 133 years ago today in Czarist Russia (and lived to 101!).  It's hard to select from a songbook that extends from 1907 to 1971, one that includes such standards as "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Easter Parade," "White Christmas," "A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody," and, of course, "God Bless America."  We decided to go with three favorites that also showcase other mega talent:  "How Deep Is The Ocean" written in 1932 and recorded by Ella Fitzgerald in 1958;  "Blue Skies," written in 1926 and recorded by Count Basie in 1945 (vocal by Jimmy Rushing);  and "Cheek To Cheek," written in 1935 and performed that same year by Fred Astaire in the film "Top Hat" (where the song is arguably eclipsed by the dancing of Astaire and the glowing Ginger Rogers.).  Hope you enjoy.

 

  

 

Weekend Perfect Music

Born 98 years ago tomorrow, the incomparable vocalist Ella Fitzgerald was an American cultural icon known for her perfect pitch and locution.  She crossed musical genres, from swing to bebop to jazz to popular music.  It's hard for us to imagine someone could have as pure a vocal instrument as Ms. Fitzgerald, but here's just one, gorgeous piece of evidence.  It's her 1950 recording of a song we love and have previously featured, the Gershwin classic "Someone To Watch Over Me."

Weekend Song - Summertime

Welcome to Summer with the incandescent Ella Fitzgerald singing Gershwin.  Enjoy.

Mid-Week Musical Interlude

Jonathan Plowright plays Debussy (h/t P.E.C.) and Ella sings/scats Irving Berlin. Can't get much better than that!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The legendary Ella Fitzgerald closes out 2011 and rings in 2012 for the Hackwhackers with the classic "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" Happy New Year to all!