Compact Jazz (Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong)

Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: June 20, 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000477B
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,182 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, solid, and tasty!, October 13, 1998

By 

Cheeky Monkey "grinningallday" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Compact Jazz (Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong) (Audio CD)

Simply charming. This was the first album I ever heard of Ella or Louis and remains one of my favorites today. The songlist is wonderful, the accompanying musicians fantastic, and Ella & Louis make an exceptional team. The energy between these two is so playful and suave that you can't help but bear a grin. Plus the band stays in the pocket while swinging your socks off. If you're new to jazz, or burnt out from playing too many Lydian flat-7 scales, then refresh yourself with this simple, solid and tasty goodie. MMmmmmmm!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't get much better than this!, July 10, 2004

By 

Mary Whipple (New England) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Compact Jazz (Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong) (Audio CD)

With Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong both performing at the peak of their careers, and with "backup" played by Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, Buddy Rich and Louis Bellson, the listener can enjoy seven of the greats of jazz, all having fun on the same album. Recorded between 1956-57 and digitally remastered in 1988, Ella's voice is bright, clear, and smooth, able to respond to whatever demands Ella makes of it, while Louis's is growly, gravelly, and operating at its limits. They provide a wonderful counterpoint to each other, while their accompanying musicians add color and a lively swing beat. But then, with stars like these, how can you lose?

In "They Can't Take That Away From Me," Ella begins in a bright swing tempo while Louis plays muted trumpet in the background, then the two alternate solos. "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good" is a vampy number with Louis soloing on the trumpet, Peterson and Rich accompanying, and Ella joining them halfway through. "It Ain't Necessarily So" features both stars singing scat, with Louis's soaring trumpet, and Peterson on the piano. "A Foggy Day," one of the best songs on the album, features Oscar Peterson's memorable and simple piano--with Ella improvising and Louis on trumpet.

All these musicians obviously respect each other, trust each other, and listen to each other, creating a unified sound from the disparate talents each brings to the studio. Best of all, it is obvious that they are having real fun together, and the listener will join them in that fun. Mary Whipple

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An evergreen album, November 24, 2006

By 

Roy Gordon (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Compact Jazz (Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong) (Audio CD)

Just a terrific album. They are so together and in sync, backed by all star musicians. Incredibly beautiful trumpet by Armstrong on Summertime. An evergreen album. You can't go wrong.