Customer Reviews

Ella & Basie

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This vocal album broke forever my obsession with any music recorded after 1965. The year after I graduated high school, I was given this as a gift by a friend, and I looked at the cover and thought: "Where can I exchange this for something good?" Fortunately, I opened it, played it, and lost my mind for the next month. A hot, swinging session, full of intense emotion, gleeful play, and ravishing talent. I have been in love with Ella ever since; I own almost all of her recordings; I named my daughter after her. If that doesn't convince you to buy this classic, I have wasted my time writing this.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL ALBUM. A LOT OF ELLA'S MUSIC HAS HER WITH LUSH ACCOMPANYMENT -- STRINGS, ET AL. THIS ALBUM HAS HER WITH THE SWINGING BASIE ORCHESTRA, AND, TRUE TO FORM, BASIE IS ON FIRE!!! HE BRINGS OUT THE SOULFUL ELLA AND I'M SURE SHE STIMULATED THE BAND AS WELL. A MUST HAVE FOR FANS OF GOOD MUSIC -- JAZZ OR OTHERWISE.

Absolultely priceless. Ella was always impressive when she had someone to impress, as her collaborations with Satch, Duke, and Louis Jordan prove. This 1963 studio date is certainly a winner. The scat exchange on "Honeysuckle Rose" shows that Ella is in a playful mood. Her phrasing throughout the album is inventive and she eloquently re-melodicizes classic standards like "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street". "Tea for Two" is a lesson in sweet sincerity. "Dream a Little Dream of Me" makes Mama Cass actually seem mediocre and once you hear Ella and Basie do "Deed I Do" it is likely no other version will ever satisfy. Basically (or Basie-cally) the entire album is like a big advertisement for the glory days of swing. God Bless Norman Granz.

I wore out the LP, and probably the 7" open reel tape at the Rochester (NY) Public Library when I was a kid. Now that I'm a touch over 40, I still think that this was one of the finest jazz records ever made. Mr. Granz (up in heaven with all the greats), thank you very, very much for this wonderful aggregation of musical delights.

Ella plus Basie plus Quincy spells sheer excellence. Moreover, this recording captures all 3 in their prime. Ella is especially commanding on the 2 Ellington tunes--"Satin Doll" and "I'm Beginning to See the Light"-- as well as on that Basie trademark--"Shiny Stockings." For some fans I know, this is the definitive Ella Fitzgerald recording. Yet the album has become difficult to obtain. Originally released on Verve as "On the Sunny Side of the Street," it's been retitled, repackaged, repriced, as well as "re-nationalized." I'd pay the price rather than risk seeing this American treasure disappear from our midst.

I am a native of Dallas,Texas and a college student. Recently I took a Jazz history class and decided to explore the world of jazz. "Ella and Basie" was the first jazz work I bought. I took it to work with me and amazingly everyone was caught by Ella's voice and Count Basie and the band. This is a wonderful arrangment by Quincy Jones. This is a good investment for all ages. This is a must buy.

This is my favorite favorite recording of live real music. Ella's scat singing is genius. It is a gem set in swing music that is pure gold. After I discovered Ella, I threw out my own 9 years of college and private voice lessons, and realized that, along with Billie Holiday, Ella was what singing is all about. With Count Basie's Orchestra and Quincy's arrangements, I dare anyone to find something that "out-swings" this.

I haven't heard this album in a couple of years and I can still hear every note in my head. A classic.

I still have my 1/4" tape reel of this great album, but haven't been able to play it for 30 years. This was an album that I had to play at least once a week for several years, and I still get chills listening to Basie's riffs and Ella's style that is so perfect with this band.

"Dream a Little Dream of Me" is my favorite song on this record. It was first recorded way before I was born, back in 1931, by Dave and Ricky's dad, Ozzie and his orchestra, though unlike his top 40 son, Ozzie didn't do the vocals. The song has been done by scores of talented people, from Louis Armstrong to Doris Day and years later by the Mamas and the Papas, but none, in my opinion, have done it as well as Ella does here. She also kills on "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "Saving My Love for You".

Who am I kidding, Ella kills on every song on this masterpiece. And it's like Count Basie was born to get a band and back Ella. And if you don't believe me, give a listen to "My Last Affair", if that doesn't move you, you ain't human.

There was a lot going on musically in 1963. Two Albums out by the Beatles, Bob Dylan out with Freewheelin', James Brown out with his Apollo Show. Music was evolving. America was changing. I would be moving on to folk, rock, and folk rock, but I wouldn't give up my love for the blues, however, big band and jazz were going to take a backseat for me, musically. But this record, big band, jazzy with Ella's great voice kept it among my favorites back then. This is a musical shining star which still shines today.