1. Rough Ridin’
2. Broadway
3. You Can Depend on Me
4. Runnin’ Wild
5. Show Me the Way to Get Out of This World (‘cause That’s Where Everything Is)
6. I’ll Always Be in Love with You
7. Hallelujah, I Love Him So
8. I Can’t Face the Music (Without Singing the Blues)
9. No Moon at All
10. Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)
11. After You’ve Gone
12. Taking a Chance on Love
13. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
14. This Can’t Be Love
15. I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)
16. Body and Soul
17.Too Close for Comfort
18. Lullaby of Birdland
19. I’ve Got a Crush on You
20. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter
21. April in Paris
22. Air Mail Special
23. I Can’t Give You Anything but Love
Ella Fitzgerald – Vocals
Orchestra Conducted and Arranged by Bill Doggett (tracks 1-13):
Ernie Royal, Taft Jordan, Ray Copeland, Joe Wilder – Trumpet
Melba Liston, Kai Winding, Britt Woodman – Trombone
Phil Woods, Jerry Dodgion – Alto sax
Carl Davis, Wilmer Shakesnider, Les Taylor – Tenor sax
Bill Doggett – Organ
Hank Jones – Piano
Mundell Lowe - Guitar
Lucille Dixon – Bass
Gus Johnson – Drums
Don Abney – Piano (tracks 14-23)
Wendell Marshall – Bass (tracks 14-23)
Jo Jones – Drums (tracks 14-23)
This CD looks like a simple reissue of a 1962 album but it actually provides us with an intriguing contrast because it includes ten tracks recorded at the
Newport Jazz Festival in 1957. These differ from the “Rhythm is My Business” LP by being performed with a piano trio, whereas the original LP used a big
band arranged and conducted by organist Bill Doggett. The songs are a strange mixture, interspersing jazz standards with decidedly odd items like Show Me the Way to Get Out of this World.
I am never optimistic that a big band will be the best accompanist for a singer, but Ella Fitzgerald overrides any difficulties by projecting her wonderful
voice clearly and assertively over the big band, yet still sounding totally relaxed. Nonetheless the band occasionally threatens to swamp Ella’s vocals and
it sometime screeches with the horns playing at top volume. Most of the eleven original tracks (plus two bonuses) are dedicated to pure swing; every number
moves along powerfully and foot-tappingly. Most of the tracks last for less than three minutes, giving little opportunity for solos in between the vocals,
and the sleeve-notes don’t help in identifying the soloists. But there is a good muted trumpet solo in Rough Ridin’ and some invigorating alto sax
solos (Phil Woods?) on Runnin’ Wild and Laughing on the Outside.
The live session (tracks 14 to 23) is plagued by a few microphone problems at the start but soon settles down into a reasonable recorded sound. In April in Paris, Ella’s vocal gymnastics are extremely daring but she has the ability to carry them off. She finishes this track by scatting an
adventurous version of Count Basie’s famous recording of the tune, including the “One more time” climax. Air Mail Special is a remarkable
performance in which Ella scats and sings her way through a medley of about a dozen songs and finishes the unaccompanied coda by rising to a high note
which is perfectly in tune with the band’s final chord.
My hi-fi and computer had problems with reproducing some of the tracks, especially tracks 15 and 16, but they sounded OK on my Walkman, so buyers should
probably check the pressings if possible. But this is a worthwhile album to have.
Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk
CD Reviews
Essential Jazz Classics EJC 55672
