Ella
Many of Ella’s recordings with just piano accompaniment are great. However, hard to overlook two with band that are on many “best” lists, “Ella in Berlin” (with quartet) and “Ella and Basie” (big band). Highly recommended! With piano only, “Ella and Oscar” (Peterson) is a must have. The great Ray Brown joins Peterson on the B side of the record. |
This is a really good one... https://www.discogs.com/Ella-Fitzgerald-Mel-Tormé-Anita-ODay-June-Christy-The-Great-Singers/release/... Think mine is mono, but can't pull it out right now to check. DeKaY |
Ella is most amazing on her albums with only piano accompanying her vocals or small ensemble. Give these a listen too, if you don't already have them on your list. I’ve mentioned these these two LP’s here many times- Ella sings Gershwin-Ellis Larkins on piano. https://www.discogs.com/Ella-Fitzgerald-Ella-Sings-Gershwin/master/250129 Let no man write my epitaph https://www.discogs.com/Ella-Fitzgerald-Ella-Fitzgerald-Sings-Songs-From-Let-No-Man-Write-My-Epitaph... Great movie too, with young Shelly Winters. Heavy subject matter for the times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAZ5XmzTQQ0 I like the songbook albums, but some the orchestration gets in the way of her vocals-IMO. There is a great article I couldn’t find with Frank and others mentioning no other had the diction of Ella Fitzgerald. You can really hear how clearly she enunciates her words on the mentioned albums. |
