An Ella Fitzgerald Quartet

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.