An economical alternative to the box set
T. Davis | Seattle, WA | 05/25/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This compact set of two discs, a Barnes & Noble exclusive, fits into a single CD case. It constitutes the first two CDs in the complete "Twelve Nights in Hollywood" box set. Together with "Vol. 3 & 4," these two sets present all of the music in the box set but in a more compact form, and they include many of the heretofore unseen photos in the bigger box. I picked up both sets at B&N for the promotional price of $18.99 each, saving considerably over the cost of the big box.
These cozy dates, never released until this year, come from a Los Angeles club called the Crescendo in 1961 and 1962. While the performances could have been a hit originally, producer Norman Granz unfortunately gave them short shrift: a single poorly-selected and poorly-mastered album that flopped commercially. The tapes sank into the vaults, not to be unearthed until jazz researcher Phil Schaap dug into the archives in 1988. He found 14 hours of California recordings made over 12 days, along with unheard live sets recorded in Rome and Chicago in 1958. Another 22 years would pass before Richard Seidel, the producer of the boxed set, assembled four CDs from the Hollywood tapes. In all, the CDs contain 76 songs, both swinging and sentimental. Ella is a joy throughout: creative and playful in her phrasing and scatting, by turns relaxed and spirited in her mood. All four volumes are essential acquisitions for Fitzgerald fans."
The Absolute Best
L. T. Quirk | 04/29/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you are an Ella fan then this will end up being one of your
favorite CD's and if you are not one yet you will be. She was just back in the US from a long tour and did a relaxed series of sets that I think are the best versions of many of her standards. You cant go wrong with this CD."