An Ella Fitzgerarld Quartet
by Kristin Battestella
These four albums of standards and
essentials combine to be the perfect primer for new jazz fans and
longtime Lady Ella lovers.
The Best of Ella Fitzgerald
– This 2016 twenty-four track version doesn't appear to be
available as an Amazon download any longer, and it's a pity to delay
the instant gratification of this seventy plus minute set of mostly
early Ella hits opening with swinging pleas of “Baby Won't You
Please Come Home” and the happy go lucky, literally bubble gum good
times in “Chew Chew Chew” before the toe tapping torch of “Crying
My Heart Out Over You” that's somehow as catchy as it is lonely.
“Five O'clock Whistle” is a bemusing diddy alongside the breezy
groove of “Holiday in Harlem,” which has some seemingly cheeky
lyrics to match the diamond in the rough subject of “I Got a Guy.”
“I Got It Bad (and that Ain't Good)” is hot damn and yes please
alongside the wistful “If Dreams Come True” and surprisingly
lighthearted “I'll Chase away the Blues” and the pleasing
simplicity and harmonies of “It's Only a Paper Moon.” The
charming piano and pace of “Little White Lies” belies the
melancholy lyrics – fittingly disguising the serious with happiness
before the mature but no less jazzy and juicy winks in “My Heart
Belongs to Daddy.” “My Last Affair” offers swanky confessions
and brass rhythms in addition to the nightclub and cigarettes slinky
mood of “My Man.” “Organ Grinder's Swing” returns to the more
fun cheek to cheek dance worthy scat before a different kind of wink
in “Rock It for Me.” Sweet instrumentals open “Shine”
although today's audiences may be confused by the inappropriate
lyrics of the era, and “Sing Song Swing” likewise has some racist
iffy. The lazy love of “Stairway to the Stars” is much better
alongside the tasty “Sugar Blues.” “Three Little Words” is
another toe tapping catchy before the mellow, melancholy doubts of
“Time Alone Will Tell.” “A Tisket A Tasket” is a famed, Ella
penned nostalgic delight and “Undecided” provides upbeat back and
forth swing to tie everything in an effortless bow. I'm not sure if
the tracks here are really alphabetical or if the media player
ordered the double numbers that way, but this session's so good I
don't even care.
Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Jerome Kern Song Book
– Newer listeners don't need to understand the mid century songbook
trend or even be a die hard Kern, Hammerstein, and show tunes fan to
delight in these twelve tracks fittingly opening with the swanky
newfound romance of “Let's Begin.” The toe tapping footsie
continues for “A Fine Romance” as slightly comical comparison
lyrics add saucy foods to the effortless whoopee. “All the Things
You Are” provides brass and big notes despite a more mellow mood,
and “I'll Be Hard to Handle” starts off smooth before escalating
into a big, breezy ode. The charming catchy in “You Couldn't Be
Cuter” has that pre-war innocence before the back and forth juicy,
pre-code winks of “She Didn't Say 'Yes'.” “I'm Old Fashioned”
oozes more cheek to cheek coy as the tender strings of “Remind Me”
stay somber and sweet. The relatively chronological session goes
award worthy big in the latter half with a simply too die for “The
Way You Look Tonight” that apologetically takes its gosh darn time.
“Yesterdays” continues the swift musical suave, and Show
Boat makes
its long, blue notes known in
“Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man.” “Why Was I Born?” may seem like
an odd exit after the bigger tunes, but the mellow encore puts the
session to bed perfectly with a lights out and good night mood.
Although a few more well known tunes in the Kern catalog are absent –
I'm off to Google Ella singing “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” because
yes please – this 1963 Nelson Riddle produced forty-two minutes
remains quick and sublime for dinner or dancing.
The Jazz Biography
– This 2009 compilation hour consists of twenty tracks starting
with every oldster's catchy, rhyming Ella favorite “A Tisket A
Tasket” before repeating “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,”
“Undecided,” “Little White Lies,” “I Got it Bad (and that
Ain't Good),” and “My Man.” Fortunately, “Air Mail Special”
provides the quintessential definition of scatting while “Angel
Eyes” offers a different master class in mood, mellow, and brood.
Different sources for the recordings here are apparent in the sound,
but I don't care if it means I can hear Ella sing the definitive “Bei
Mir Bist Du Schon” alongside the weary lovelorn “Black Coffee”
blues. “Dream a Little Dream” is simply sublime thanks to a bonus
appearance by Louis Armstrong, and the sunset and brass likewise
combine for “In the Evening When the Sun Comes Down” before the
jolly promises of “I Want to Be Happy” provide a dancing
interlude. The tender “Saving Myself for You” lets Ella's
effortless vocals shine while “Preview” delivers more scat
goodness and “Gotta A Pebble in My Shoe” recalls more
lighthearted innocence on top of the all scat high notes of “Rough
Ridin'.” “Strictly from Dixie” adds southern charm with
magnolia talk and julep drinks, but the organ, vocals, and clapping
of “Smooth Sailing” take on a carefree gospel remixed feeling as
“Gulf Coast Blues” sends this unforgettable mix of essential Ella
and bringing down the house standards out on a ritzy high note.
The Very Best of the Cole Porter Songbook –
This 2007 CD reissue is not the same as the much lauded Ella
Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book –
which is a superb 1956 double LP until itself – but rather a
condensed forty-three minute set list that whets the appetite with
the ritzy innuendo of “Just One of Those Things” before getting
its Anything
Goes on
with the questionable lyrics and beside the piano casual sway of “I
Get a Kick Out of You.”
“Night
and Day” is unique but comfortably familiar thanks to likewise
Sinatra swanky, but “(You'd Be So) Easy to Love” is a bittersweet
candlelight plea compared to the lovelorn lyrics yet upbeat and jazzy
“What is this
Thing Called Love.” “In the Still of the Night” is not the doo
wop essential of the same name but a breezy ode nonetheless with a
touch of exotic drums to match the forbidden winks. Unlike Frank or
Frankie Valli's versions, “I've Got You Under My Skin” remains an
effortless, sing a long catchy without any further embellishments
needed to contrast the soft and sweet torch of “I Concentrate on
You.” One wants to get up and cut a rug thanks to the sway in
“Begin the Beguine,” but the slightly seedy, moody, and juicy
lyrics for “Love for Sale” create a shut up and take my money
burlesque listen. The tempting two-timing of “It's All Right with
Me” is a jolly reversal, and in spite of Porter's somewhat silly
lyrical pairs, Ella's “Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)” is a
maturely paced and sophisticated night cap invitation with after
hours pillow talk. Truly, the only downside of this must have session
is that it leaves your ears wanting more – like the rest of the
original record.
For
more, revisit our Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas and
Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas holiday
reviews.
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