Search - Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong :: Best Of Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

A Must-Have (in one form or another)--but think twice.

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 10/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With all due respect to some other reviewers, this is not "an album" made by Ella and Louis: it's a sampler comprising three Ella and Louis albums. Normally I would not even consider, say, a Sinatra anthology mixing three masterworks like "Only the Lonely," "In the Wee Small Hours," and "Come Fly with Me": each is a unique and integrally whole project. But I have the Ella and Louis LPs, so I picked up this compressed anthology to take some pressure off of the vinyl.



Like most "best-of" collections, it suffers a bit from uneven textures (the lush orchestration of "Summertime" seems like an intrusion on the intimate rapport established in the preceding numbers) and audio quality (variances in mics, mixing and engineering can be hard to disguise). So unless some of the tunes on this anthology seem absolutely essential, go with "Ella and Louis," if only for its more coherent, unified feel--like two supreme musical storytellers having an irresistable conversation in real time and in real space. (If you have a piano, imagine inviting both into your living room for the evening.)



Louis' meetings with Ella were his most successful collaborations with another major star (the Ellington get-together doesn't compare), and unfortunately I know of no extended, full-fidelity vinyl sessions featuring Pops with Bing Crosby. What's most noteworthy about their pairing is Ella's restrained deference to Louis, and Louis' passionate, animated trumpet solos (it was not unusual for him to "coast" at this stage of his career). The duets are at times a bit sloppy, or "under-rehearsed," especially following the trumpet solo, but the absence of polish is in this case all for the better. This is a recording about communication of the most "natural" sort, not about perfection or disciplined performance. To hear Pops singing unison, then in 3rds, with Ella on an up-tempo "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" defies description. Simply his presence is enough to showcase Ella's grace and set us up for the sound of surprise when it's Louis' turn to sing solo.



Recently I heard a Wynton Marsalis tribute to Louis at the Lincoln Center. As fluent and dazzling as Wynton was, his performance made me appreciate Louis all the more. Perhaps Leonard Bernstein hit it on the head in his musical essay about jazz, "What Is Jazz?" Alternating between Louis' vocals and trumpet playing, he pointed out the similarity between the two, noting the hint of "pain" intermingled with the joy, or the brilliance of the trumpet sound, as evidence of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, which might be said to be the essence of the blues itself. Fortunately, that sound is captured in virtually every note that Louis sings and plays on this recording."

They Can't Take "This" Away From Me!!

douglas barton | Arlington, Va. | 11/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Where do you begin reviewing a cd that, simply put, may be the closest thing we have to a musical "heaven-on-earth". The songs on this disc truly represents what is really astounding about each artist and how they were able to work together so incredibly well! And we can thank Norman Granz, head of Verve Records, for dreaming up this magical duo! This cd is actually a compilation of the three albums that Ella and Louis released together. And,fortunately, what is included here is their very best. Between Ella's sweet vocals and Louis' incredible phrasing plus, of course, his amazing trumpet and each song is simply a joy to listen to! And, even more remarkable,is the sheer fun that each are having while recording with the other. This really was a "labor of love" for each of them!And, we are invited to join in on the fun...well, who could resist? There are so many highlights, "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" THIS being the definitive version, "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and, of course, "Gee,Baby, Ain't I Good To You". Whether it's a ballad or an uptempo song Ella and Louis give each tune everything they've got. And,brother, that's saying a lot!Plus, at the budget price that it's given, why wouldn't you have a copy in your collection? Overall, an amazing cd that shows how incredible jazz can be when in the hands of artists who simply are the "best" in their field.Elegant, sophisticated and a disc with real class. It's never gotten better than this!! TEN Stars!!"

Giants

David Bradley | Sterling, VA USA | 04/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow.I absolutely love this record.Two GIANTS of American music together. Not Sinatra singing along to pre-recorded tracks by a bunch of 2nd rate singers, as he did towards the end of his career, but two of the true legends of jazz singing classic tunes together while at the peak of their abilities.Ella Fitzgerald's voice is sheer perfection, Armstrong's horn is not the hot jazz of his earlier stuff, but still swings like nobody's business--and to hear Louis Armstrong sing is a thrill that I never tire of. The horn solo on "Love Is Here To Stay," probably a throw-off for a master like Armstrong, swings and sways till you just want to scream.Everybody--and I mean, EVERYBODY--should have a copy of this LP."