Billie or Ella? Maria or Renata? Technique or feeling?

I’m a great admirer of Billie Holiday’s singing and have most of her recordings. I would like to acquire some Ella Fitzgerald jazz recordings as well. Most of what you most commonly see of her work are the the "Songbook" type recordings like the Cole Porter or Gershwin songbook or recordings like Porgy and Bess with Louis Armstrong.

There must be outstanding straight jazz Ella Fitzgerald albums you might recommend that I could search out. Nothing against the above mentioned recordings, which many of you must enjoy, they’re just not to my individual taste. Thanks for any suggestions.

Mike

Maybe I’ve used poor terminology. to describe what I’m looking for in Ella Fitgerald recordings. I’d prefer to avoid the Gershwin or Cole Porter Great American songbook type material is all. For instance, I’ve most all of Miles Davis records through 1977, but rarely play his Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain or Quiet Nights recordings. For whatever reason, valid or not, I find that kind of material annoying and that’s what I’d like to avoid. Maybe her Duke Ellington Songbook album would be okay.

So if any of you could recommend any Ella albums like I’m poorly trying to describe, I’d appreciate your recommendations. Thanks.

Mike

Tylermunns, just as an example, Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" or "Birth of the Cool" recordings as opposed to his "Sketches of Spain" or  Louis Armstrong's "Hot Five and Hot Seven" recordings as opposed to His "Hello Dolly" material. 

Mike

Thanks tablejockey. I'll check the Decca and early Verve material out. That sounds like what I'd be looking for.

Frogman, very nice selections all. Thanks for posting them. Lester Young is a particular favorite and it was nice to hear him playing alongside Ella. I love any of  the music where he accompanied Billie Holiday too. Both he, Coltrane and Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins are my all time sax favorites, all geniuses in their own right, just like Ella and Billie in theirs.

Mike