In case you didn’t know, Ella Fitzgerald (under the advice of Norman Granz) was the one who essentially invented delivering albums of “Songbooks”. Her reads of material by Porter, Gershwin, Mercer, etc launcher her career from being a respected jazz singer to the face of American vocals.
This album, hidden all these years, finds her at the Hollywood Bowl delivering 15 songs, all from her pair of albums of the Irving Berlin Songbook. What makes it more precious is that she is backed by Paul Weston’s orchestra (as well as a handful of intimate small group settings), so you get the Ella of the classic Verve albums, and not just an ad hoc backup team. WHEW!
Backed by a fun loving big band, Ella dives into a big and brassy “Heat Wave” with abandon, while in trio format introduces “Always” before the reeds come wafting in. The heavenly harp adds to her husky voice on a hushed “Russian Lt White Tie and Tails” and adds to the warmth of “You’re Laughing At Me”. The strings are moody and blue for “Suppertime” and clear on “How Deep Is The Ocean”.
Fitzgerald is clearly enjoying herself throughout, and is in vintage form, boogieing on “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” and dancing with the saxes on “Cheek To Cheek”, even bringing out her Brooklyn accent on the closing “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”. Who’s been hiding this all these years? I want names!!