Ella Fitzgerald - The Concert Years (1953-83) [4 CD Box Set] - 1994

Product Description: Recorded between 1953 and 1983. Includes liner notes by Eric Miller and Benny Green. The Concert Years is an impressive four-disc box set covering the decades from 1953 to 1983. It was a time when Ella Fitzgerald was probably the most renowned female jazz singer in the world, selling out large theaters and concert halls when most jazz musicians could barely fill a nightclub. These are all live recordings, obviously, and they run the gamut from big band dates–the Duke Ellington and Count Basie Orchestras, two of Fitzgerald's favorite collaborators, appear on several tracks–to more intimate trio appearances. The tracks recorded with the Oscar Peterson Trio are possibly the best of the lot, as Fitzgerald's voice is always front and center on them, in less danger of being overshadowed by showboating soloists. Not that even the most spotlight-grabbing of instrumentalists, such as Ellington's star tenor Johnny Hodges, can divert the listener's attention from that spectacular voice. This is live jazz at its finest.

Digitally remastered by Phil De Lancie (1994, Fantasy). Compilation producer: Eric Miller.

Personnel includes: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Benny Carter, Willie Smith, Ben Webster, Flip Phillips, Johnny Hodges, Stan Getz, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Zoot Sims (saxophone); Roy Eldridge, Cootie Williams, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Clark Terry (trumpet); Al Grey, J.J. Johnson (trombone); Oscar Peterson, Tommy Flanagan, Paul Smith (piano); Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Freddie Green (guitar); Ray Brown, Keter Betts, Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson (bass); Ed Thigpen, Mickey Roker, Louie Bellson (drums); The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Count Basie Orchestra. Engineers include: Val Valentin, Angel Balestier, John Timperly.

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Ella Fitzgerald - The Concert Years (1953-83) [4 CD Box Set] - 1994

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Reviews #1: On this four-CD set are some of Ella Fitzgerald's finest live performances during the years she was managed by Norman Granz. All of the material (which is taken from ten different performances in 1953, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1983) was previously released on various Pablo albums. Since this is a best-of collection and was lovingly put together by the knowledgeable producer Eric Miller, the music is consistently rewarding and emphasizes the interpretive skills, scatting and jazz phrasing of the First Lady of Song. Although mostly backed by her trio/quartets of the period, Ella does get to jam "Perdido" with the 1953 JATP All-Stars, is backed by the Duke Ellington and Count Basie Orchestras on some songs and revisits "Flying Home" with an all-star group in 1983. The most remarkable performance is 1972's "C Jam Blues" which features Ella trading off remarkable musical jokes with Al Grey, Stan Getz, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Roy Eldridge. ~ All Music Guide

#2: During the years before and after Verve Records, Norman Granz (Norman Granz Biography) frequently recorded Fitzgerald live. He eventually released most of the material on his Pablo label in the 1970s and several of the sets were subsequently reissued on CD by Fantasy. This four-CD set brings most of that material together in one package, with concerts from 1953, '66, '67, '71, '72, '74, '75, '77, '79, and '83 that not only feature Fitzgerald with her current working groups (led by pianists Paul Smith and Tommy Flanagan) but also include live encounters with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra and several all-star sessions. ~ All About Jazz

Track Listing:

Disc 1

01 - On The Sunny Side of The Street - 2:21
02 - Body and Soul - 4:15
03 - Why Don't You Do Right - 3:25
04 - Oh Lady, Be Good - 3:12
05 - I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) - 3:42
06 - How High the Moon - 3:16
07 - My Funny Valentine - 2:57
08 - Smooth Sailing - 2:54
09 - Frim Fram Sauce - 3:45
10 - Perdido - 6:27
11 - Imagine My Frustration - 5:03
12 - Duke's Place - 4:43
13 - Satin Doll - 2:47
14 - Something To Live For - 4:25
15 - Só Danço Samba - 3:43
16 - Don't Be That Way - 4:09
17 - You've Changed - 4:13
18 - Let's Do It - 4:39
19 - On The Sunny Side Of The Street - 2:14
20 - Cotton Tail - 5:29

Disc 2

01 - Night and Day - 6:58
02 - The Many Faces of Cole Porter: Get Out of Town; Easy to Love You; You Do Something to Me - 5:32
03 - The Ballad Medley: Body and Soul; The Man I Love; I Loves You Porgy - 4:50
04 - The Bossa Scene: The Girl from Ipanema; Fly Me to the Moon; O Nosse Amor (Carnival Samba); Cielito Lindo; Madalena; Agua de Beber (Water to Drink) - 5:51
05 - They Can't Take That Away from Me - 4:20
06 - St. Louis Blues - 3:12
07 - Love - 3:16
08 - Begin the Beguine - 4:27
09 - Indian Summer - 4:35
10 - You've Got a Friend - 5:15
11 - Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most - 4:03
12 - Madalena - 3:37
13 - Shiny Stockings - 3:56
14 - I Can't Stop Loving You - 6:12
15 - C-Jam Blues - 11:05

Disc 3

01 - Sweet Georgia Brown - 3:46
02 - They Can't Take That Away From Me - 4:48
03 - Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye - 2:58
04 - The Man I Love - 8:40
05 - It Don't Mean A Thing - 7:31
06 - Lemon Drop - 3:50
07 - The Very Thought Of You - 4:37
08 - Happy Blues - 6:16
09 - Caravan - 3:34
10 - Satin Doll - 2:53
11 - Teach Me Tonight - 4:41
12 - Wave - 5:17
13 - It's All Right With Me - 3:06
14 - How High The Moon - 7:25
15 - 'T Ain't Nobody Biz-ness If I Do - 6:02

Disc 4

01 - Too Close for Comfort - 3:50
02 - I Ain't Got Nothin But The Blues - 4:40
03 - Day By Day - 2:07
04 - Ordinary Fool - 3:59
05 - Billie's Bounce - 5:01
06 - Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone - 2:01
07 - Make Me Rainbows - 3:24
08 - After You've Gone - 3:48
09 - 'Round Midnight - 4:41
10 - You've Changed - 3:23
11 - Basella - 10:31
12 - Manteca - 2:40
13 - Willow Weep For Me - 5:29
14 - All Of Me - 3:51
15 - Blue Moon - 4:07
16 - Night and Day - 4:02
17 - Flying Home - 9:50

Time: 288:11

Personnel:

Ella Fitzgerald (vocals)
Benny Carter, Willie Smith, Ben Webster, Flip Phillips, Johnny Hodges, Stan Getz, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Zoot Sims (saxophone)
Roy Eldridge, Cootie Williams, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Clark Terry (trumpet)
Al Grey, J.J. Johnson (trombone)
Oscar Peterson, Tommy Flanagan, Paul Smith (piano)
Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Freddie Green (guitar)
Ray Brown, Keter Betts, Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson (bass)
Ed Thigpen, Mickey Roker, Louie Bellson (drums)
The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Count Basie Orchestra.