Ella Fitzgerald

• 180 gram VIRGIN VINYL

• 5 STARS DOWN BEAT

Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald’s paths had surely crossed many times during the Thirties, Forties and early Fifties. However, no recorded trace of the two legendary musicians collaborating exists until 1957, when Norman Granz produced a series of big band and small group sessions.

This album presents Ella singing Ellington tunes backed by a small group featuring tenor saxophonist Ben Webster and legendary violinist Stuff Smith, plus Ella’s regular accompanist Paul Smith and the great Oscar Peterson sharing the piano, and Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis taking turns on guitar.

PERSONNEL:

• ELLA FITZGERALD - (vocals on all tracks) plus:

• ON TRACKS A1-A6 & B1-B4:
• Ben Webster (ts), Stuff Smith (vln), Paul Smith (p),
• Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Alvin Stoller (d).
• Hollywood, September 4, 1956.

• (A3 & B3 are duets with Barney Kessel.)

• ON TRACKS B5-B6:
• Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b).
• Hollywood, October 17, 1957.
• (B5 is a duet with Oscar Peterson.)

TRACKS:

• SIDE A:
• A1. DON’T GET AROUND MUCH ANYMORE
• A2. PRELUDE TO A KISS
• A3. IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD
• A4. SOPHISTICATED LADY
• A5. JUST A-SITTIN’ AND A-ROCKIN’
• A6. I LET A SONG GO OUT OF MY HEART

• SIDE B:
• B1. DO NOTHIN’ TILL YOU HEAR FROM ME
• B2. JUST SQUEEZE ME (BUT DON’T TEASE ME)
• B3. AZURE
• B4. ROCKS IN MY BED
• B5. LUSH LIFE
• B6. MOOD INDIGO