Customer Reviews

Easy Living

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although recorded 13 years later than their "Take Love Easy" sessions, these sessions sound great too. If you're a fan of this duo then you'll love this CD too. Jazz vocal/guitar duos that sound this good are rare. Between the two of them they really swing on some tunes. Every tune on this CD is great.

It's been a while since I played this CD, which was greeted with rave reviews on its first issue in 1986. Ella was then in her late sixties, by which time her voice was past its best, which manifests itself in what could be charitably described as a wide vibrato on sustained notes. Listening again, I'm reminded of her later tendency to take liberties with both tune and lyrics. That would be defensible if it improved upon the original, but that was always arguable in her case, and the facility did not improve with the passing years.

My copy carries a tracklist which adds up to under an hour of music, and nothing in the way of a liner note. These deficiencies are offset by Joe Pass's sympathetic accompaniment, which was for me the deciding factor in its purchase.

It's not that it's a bad CD or anything, it's just not the greatest. The recording dates of the sessions of this CD are probably the most important parts to take notice of: 1983 and 1986. This means that Ms. Fitzgerald was fairly old, and her health was not the greatest at this time, and it shows a little bit on the record. On a few songs she's just out of tune, and sounds old.

Mr. Pass' playing is up to its usual snuff, of course; just simple, easy-sounding playing that carries the tune without overdoing it.

There are better records of Ella Fitzgerald with Joe Pass, if this is what one is looking for; Fitzgerald & Pass...Again, for example, is pretty nice.

I bought this as a gift and the person I bought it for was very excited!
Thank you for putting this item for sale.

This is Ella at her mature best. The voice is older, wiser and a little huskier but oh so beautiful. There is no better way to accompany her. Joe Pass is sublime.

I love hearing Joe Pass play solo guitar. I love hearing Ella sing with a big band. Hearing them together is just awesome! They had such a chemistry! Loved this CD.

Another amazing session by the immortal duet. Joe as always strikes listeners by his incredible ability to fit some crazy virtuosic stuff into an accompaniment and to lead a melody of his own that perfectly suites the original vocal part, whereas Ella's voice got just so much more interesting with age. Her talent for acing any tune in the world is now flavored with a profoundness and an intriguing touch of...experience or mystery if you will. The chemistry that comes out of their playing together is quite rare, something that you would call "in the best traditions of The Great Jazz".
Also read in some of the comments that she's out of the tune in a few songs, which made me wonder which world that was in. Ella was somebody who could never miss a single note. In fact, in some sense she was inventing them. I'm sure she even snored "in tune", if you know what I mean. 5 stars, one of the best duets in the history of jazz.

Ella Fitzgerald remains The Lady Of Song despite the passing of the years; and her performance on this CD with guitarist Joe Pass stuns me with its beauty. Ella and Joe fit together so well; and every moment of this CD proves it.

Ella starts off by singing "My Ship." "My Ship" showcases Ella's remarkable ability to deliver a love song with great sensitivity and panache. Joe's soft and supple guitar playing awes me; his solo on this number proves he's one of the best guitar players Ella could have picked for her partner on this album.

"Don't Be That Way" starts off with a brief guitar solo; and when Ella comes in she plays with the tempo of her vocals to make "Don't Be That Way" a wonderful number! Ella scats a while and never misses a note as some singers do with this number that seems deceptively easy to deliver. "My Man" gets the royal treatment from Ella; she sings this with all the passion any woman would feel for her male lover. Ella lowers her voice to sing this softly; and this embellishes "My Man."

Other great treats on this CD include "The Days Of Wine And Roses." "The Days Of Wine And Roses" shows us Ella singing from all the corners of her wide vocal range of way more than just one octave. By this time you realize that this CD is one of Ella's best even though it was recorded late in her career. "Love For Sale" starts with Ella humming very soulfully; and she sings her vocals magnificently. Ella again plays with the tempo of her vocals to enhance this number; and Joe Pass makes the guitar accompaniment seem so easy although we know it really wasn't easy at all.

"On Green Dolphin Street" has some great key changes from the very start; I love it! Ella sings with all her heart of the memories she still holds dear. Joe Pass again gets a guitar solo that truly amazes me. He's right up there with the best of them!

"By Myself" was featured in the Judy Garland movie entitled I Could Go On Singing; and Ella's interpretation would make Judy proud indeed. Joe plays very softly in order to showcase Ella's voice and set it apart from the guitar. Ella's voice is therefore placed squarely in front of the musical arrangement; this helps to deliver a sad song about a person who must live life alone. This heart wrenching song never fails to move me.

The CD ends with "Slow Boat To China;" this song features the dream and joy of having your lover all to yourself for quite some while to come. The upbeat melody gets a slower than usual tempo here; but it still works well. You also get yet another guitar solo from Joe Pass. Great!

The liner notes include an essay about Ella, Joe and the songs written by Benny Green; and the cover artwork features a tasteful photo of Ella and Joe performing together.

Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass fans will consider this a "must-have" for their collections; and fans of classic pop vocals will enjoy this CD, too.

Ella Fitzgerald never sounded finer, then she did in this exellent Pablo session of intimate duets with gently swinging guitarist joe Pass. Fitzgerald's vocie had finally lost it's girlish innocence, and her vocie sounds womanly and knowing, she has more feeling in these songs then in her 50's Verve sessions. This set proves Ella had lost nothing through the years and she went out on top. This was Ella's 2nd to last session, and truly one of her most magnificent sessions. Here she gently swings on such jazz standards as "Love For Sale" and "I Want A Little Girl." Recomended.

Also try Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass "Take Love Easy" their 1st pairing on the pablo label, and The Intimate Ella, her finest Verve seesion of duets with pianist Paul Smith.

Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass played the Playboy Jazz Festival in the early 70's, and they got a standing ovation, Norman Granz of Pablo Records immidiately put them together in the studio to record their 1st LP "Take Love Easy." "Easy Living" is their 4rth and final recording together. It is spectacular, intimate, and wonderful. Ella swings, scats and sings gently and smoothly. Highlights include a cool "My Ship" and a lighly swingin' "Slowboat To China," every track is a gem. This is a must have for any jazz collector, as are all of the Fitzgerald/Pass sessions.