Search - Ella Fitzgerald :: Montreux Jazz Festival 1975

Exciting, and thrilling... Ella is in top form...

05/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Exciting and thrilling, Ella is in top form for this live set, at the 1975 Montaux Jazz Festival, although Ella At Montraux 77 is better, this set is essential too, with a especially spontanious version of Ellington's classic jazz standard "Caravan" Every track is pleasurable, and Ella is as smooth and sweet sounding as ever, always swinging, and taking lot's of chances with improvisations... Really exciting..."

Too sad

chrisfitz2 | Australia | 09/25/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I find this album too sad, Ella voice is just not up to it, especially on how high the moon, where her voice just can't do the magic, that it had done 15 years earlier in Berlin. This is for die hard fans (which I am). If you are looking for a good live concert, buy Ella in Berlin, Ella returns to Berlin or at the Opera House, which are all late 50's, early 60's and sound fantastic. If you are looking for a later concert, then buy Ella
a nice, where her voice is not as frayed around the edges."

Somewhere There's Music With Scattin'-A-Plenty

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 08/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ella Fitzgerald's "Live At The Montreux Jazz Festival 1975" is one of her most notable live recordings that I always enjoy listening to. It is lively, exuberant and full of spirits. As always, there is that inherent glow in all her performances, which validate the First Lady of Song not only a mere singer, but a total performer as well.



Listen closely to what she did with one of Antonio Carlos Jobim's classics, "Wave," where you could hear a little over five minutes of purely ingenious scatting. She was very good at it so I would say that she was truly the "Queen of Scatting," another title I used to describe her remarkable artistry. Her innate flair for scatting can also be heard on her uniquely engaging "How High The Moon," the longest running track from this set. Moreover, you'll be delighted to discover that there are snippets of song(s) she reveals within a song, which I would call "Song(s) Within A Song." I simply love it when singers/musicians do that creative approach in their interpretations. A few examples below.



"Wave" - (Heatwave)

"How High The Moon" - (Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and Swingin' Shepherd Blues)

"The (Girl) Boy From Ipanema" - (I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Brazil, Cielito Lindo, Agua De Beber, Fly Me To The Moon, Temptation and a few Brazilian songs)



Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn/Johnny Mercer's "Satin Doll" and Gene de Paul/Sammy Cahn's "Teach Me Tonight" are standouts as well.



The equally talented musicians who brought their expertise with their respective instruments and their wealth of experience as sidemen include Tommy Flanagan on piano, Keter Betts on bass and Bobby Durham on drums.



This is wholeheartedly recommended to all vocal jazz fans who greatly appreciate live recordings. Happy Listening!"