The Stockholm Concert, 1966

Performer: Ella Fitzgerald
Producer: Norman Granz
Distributor: Fantasy (distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Duke Ellington (piano); Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Harry Carney (saxophone); Cootie Williams, Herb Jones, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington (trumpet); Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Conners (trombone); Jimmy Jones (piano); John Lamb, Joe Comfort (bass); Gus Johnson, Sam Woodyard (drums). Recorded live at Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden in 1966. Includes liner notes by Norman Granz. Digitally remastered by Joe Tarantino (1987, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California). After an auspicious beginning with the Chick Webb band and long solo run featuring a celebrated string of songbook albums on Verve (Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, etc.), Ella Fitzgerald maintained her high profile from the mid-'60s onward, mostly by touring the world and -- to a lesser extent -- recording a series of enjoyable dates for Pablo. This informal-sounding, never before released Stockholm concert recording from 1966 shows why Fitzgerald as primarily a live performer is not such a bad thing. Backed by Duke Ellington's orchestra and her own trio of pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Joe Comfort, and drummer Gus Johnson, she shows off her incredible interpretive skills on a mix of standards heavy with Ellington and Strayhorn classics. Along with a rousing rendition of "Cottontail" (featuring a scatting Fitzgerald and tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves trading fours), there's a pop swinging version of "Satin Doll" and all too rarely heard vocal takes of "Imagine My Frustration" and "Something to Live For." Rounding out the Ellington cuts, Fitzgerald also exquisitely handles '60s fare like Jobim's "So Danco Samba" and Bacharach's "Wives and Lovers." In addition to Gonsalves, Ellington regulars like Johnny Hodges and Cootie Williams also contribute some fine solos. While maybe not as essential as Ella's Verve songbooks, The Stockholm Concert is still a must for any serious Fitzgerald fan. ~ Stephen Cook

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