Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong For Lovers

Performer: Ella Fitzgerald
Artist: Oscar Peterson; Herb Ellis; Ray Brown; Buddy Rich; Hank Jones; Louie Bellson
Producer: Milt Gabler; Norman Granz; Bryan Koniarz (Compilation)
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Herb Ellis (guitar); Hank D'Amico (clarinet); Frank Ludwig (tenor saxophone); Paul Webster (trumpet); Hank Jones , Oscar Peterson (piano); Ray Brown (bass instrument); Louie Bellson, Buddy Rich (drums). Liner Note Author: Al Young. It would be hard to beat this collection of jazz standards sung by two of the most important figures in jazz. For most of the album, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong share the spotlight. However, on certain tunes, Armstrong accompanies Fitzgerald with smart trumpet riffs and vocal harmonies. Such is the case with the elegant ballad, "The Stars Fell on Alabama." Here, Armstrong's gritty voice perfectly contrasts Fitzgerald's silky smooth timbre. Armstrong's vocal features, "Our Love is Here to Stay" and "Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)," both highlight his ability to combine scat with lyric singing. Other selections such as "The Nearness of You" and "Moonlight in Vermont" are particularly poetic numbers rendered superbly by Fitzgerald. On these tunes, The First Lady of Song's voice is especially dreamy and honeyed. Overall, this set of love songs, culled from the Great American Songbook, could not receive a better reading anywhere (or by anyone). The rapport between Fitzgerald and Armstrong is stunning and each song will leave you reaching for another glass of wine and the dimmer switch.

Through unparalleled ability and judicious choice of repertoire, Ella Fitzgerald became the foremost female interpreter of the 20th-century Great American Popular Song Book. With producer Norman Granz she worked on the "songbook" series, placing on record definitive performances of the work of America's leading songwriters. Fitzgerald had a wide vocal range, but her voice retained a youthful, light vibrancy throughout the greater part of her career, bringing a fresh and appealing quality to most of her material, especially her scat singing. While there are still numerous excellent artists whose work has been strongly influenced by Fitzgerald, the social and artistic conditions that helped to create America's First Lady of Song no longer exist, and it seems highly unlikely that we shall ever see or hear her like again.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25