Ella Fitzgerald - Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! - 1961 (1989)

×

Ella Fitzgerald - Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! - 1961 (1989)

Close

Product Description: This early '60s studio session captures Ella Fitzgerald moving toward the smaller, more pointedly jazz-inflected ensembles that would shape her career in her final decades. After the lush orchestrations of her classic series of composer songbooks, which found her collaborating with the best arrangers, the intimate scale and easy interplay of a crack band provide a wonderful platform for the spirited performances here. That Ella herself savored the opportunity is reflected in a program that includes Thelonious Monk's "After Midnight" and a breezy, potent ride through the Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie anthem, "Night In Tunisia." With a mix of bona fide standards and revived swing classics, this is a rediscovered gem, cause enough to clap hands.

Recorded in Los Angeles, California on June 22-23, 1961. Many of the Ella Fitzgerald CDs in print are compilations and recently discovered live recordings, which makes this reissue with bonus tracks of a 1961 album that much more interesting. Produced by Norman Granz, this is a small-combo session with occasional and unobtrusive strings. Though Fitzgerald got her start as a big-band singer, smaller and more intimate combos fit her rich, velvety voice better than big brassy arrangements. Opening with Dizzy Gillespie's classic "Night in Tunisia," which features some outstanding scatting, CLAP HANDS, HERE COMES CHARLIE continues in that bop-oriented vein, with versions of "Stella By Starlight" and Monk's "'Round Midnight." The highest point on the album, though, is a stunning, stripped-down version of "Cry Me a River." The three bonus tracks, recorded during these sessions, are very good, but not revelatory, though the saucy "I Got a Guy" is swinging fun.

×

Ella Fitzgerald - Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! - 1961 (1989)

Close

Review: Ella Fitzgerald has no competition. The most universally admired popular singer in the world, she represents one of the fortunate cases when talent translates into popularity and productivity. . . Ever as emotionally deep as she is swinging, her voice brimming with contagious, enthusiastic energy, her pitch perfect and her time beyond reproach, I think she's modestly misdirected the proper recipient of applause: we should be shouting, "Clap Hands! Here Comes Ella!" ~ Will Friedwald ~

Ella Fitzgerald's "Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!" is one of her lesser known albums, but filled with some of the best songs from the Songbook series. It was recorded in Los Angeles and New York City and originally released in 1961 under Verve Records. In 1989, this recording was reissued on a CD format with the addition of three previously unreleased songs (the last three bonus tracks). Here she is supported by a small number of talented musicians who created an ambience of intimate setting for the album: Lou Levy (piano), Herb Ellis (guitar), Joe Mondragon (bass), Stan Levey (drums), Wilfred Middlebrooks (bass) and Gus Johnson (drums). Ella's greatest talent was her exceptional ability to interpret even the most ordinary song and turn it into something beautiful with her inimitable vocal prowess which is a musical instrument by itself. And even without the embellishment of a full orchestra, the First Lady of Song aces all the seventeen songs from the initial track, "Night In Tunisia" down to the last track, "This Could Be The Start of Something Big." She's at her most creative self as she sings my top favorites from this set, "My Reverie" (adapted from the beautiful masterpiece of my favorite classical composer, Claude Debussy's "Reverie," lyrics penned by Larry Clinton), "Stella By Starlight," "Cry Me A River," "Round Midnight" and the jazziest and swingiest track, "Music Goes 'Round and Around." If you prefer Ella in a more intimate setting rather than an orchestra backing her up, this is the perfect CD to buy. It simply promises an hour of great listening experience. Wholeheartedly recommended.

P.S. A friend of mine told me that if she were Ella, she will definitely disapprove the artwork on the cover. And I totally agree with her, but on second thought, I told her, "Never mind the artwork. Art is very forgiving. Anyway, it's not the CD cover that matters most, it's the material." ~ Amazon Customer

×

Ella Fitzgerald - Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! - 1961 (1989)

Close

×

Ella Fitzgerald - Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! - 1961 (1989)

Close