Customer Reviews

Ella & Duke at the Cote D'Azur

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This has been my favorite Ella Fitzgerald set since I first acquired the vinyl in 1975 or so. The editorial review leads you to believe that these tracks are derived from the eight- disc boxed set, but that's not accurate - THIS is the original album, and all that was available of these wonderful concerts for many years. I was excited when they announced the release of the eight disc boxed set, knowing how much I love the music on the original two disc set, but in retrospect, the big box set doesn't really contain much more worthwhile material. If I had to do it over I would just buy the two-disc set and skip buying the box, as I find myself playing this one over and over and hardly ever cracking open the other.

The selections presented on this two-disc set are definitely the cream of the crop. I strongly disagree with those who say that Ella shines here but Duke is only so-so. Ella's tracks are of course magnificent, but Duke leads the band with great skill and perfect timing, as he always does. And as a singer, his scatting on "It Don't Mean a Thing" is quite brilliant. He is not as polished as Ella, but he does manage to match her vitality, even as he strains for some of the notes. And in terms of improvisation, he actually catches her off-guard more than once, and I find myself smiling with each "shoe-be-do-ba-dua" that he lets out. I always find it hard to sit still as I listen to him growl, and sometimes I dance around the room when his vocal really gets going. My CD collection contains not quite enough Duke Ellington (14 CD's) and maybe too much Ella Fitzgerald (97 CD's - but then, can one really have TOO much Ella?) but if I had to pick just one album to take on a permanent vacation, this would be it. The two big swing numbers, Mack the Knife and It Don't Mean a Thing are possibly my pick as the most "fun" pieces, but there really isn't a weak moment on the whole album. Ella's reading of the ballads Misty and How Long Has This Been Going On are absolutely perfect, and her Lullaby of Birdland is probably my favorite track on the album. The three extra tracks from the eight-disc box are nothing special, and quite representative of what that set contains. Those seeking a complete record of these concerts will do alright by purchasing the larger boxed set, but I think this album contains all that's really essential. Either way, this music is quite entertaining, and highly recommended.

Three reasons to own this "Cote D'Azur" concert CD:
On Disc #1: 1) "Mack the Knife." Without a doubt, this is the most upbeat, swinging version of this song Ella has done. Her imitation of Satchmo is, as always, right on. It's like the version she did in Berlin in the 1960 concert, only this version has gone more than slightly and delightfully haywire. The scatting has never been better. Ella takes risks here. She jutts and recedes; takes corners on two wheels; and pops wheelies all the way through. No wonder she's called LadyTime. If you can sit still while listening to this song, you must be dead already.
Disc #2:
1) "It Don't Mean a Thing..." You can't help but laugh. The spirit of fun and good feeling between Ella and Duke, and between Ella and Duke and their audience, comes through on this song, in spite of what we read in the liner notes: how Ella's dear half-sister passed away, and how, after a song, she would exit the stage in order to weep in the wings. That she could muster enough strength and charisma to swing in the midst of a personal loss simply shows what a talented genius LadyTime was, and how dedicated to her art and to her audience she was.
2) "So Danco Samba." This song is the reason I bought this collection in the first place. Ella, as always, is free and easy. The scatting is superb. She takes this Jobim song and makes it her own. This one song along could make you an Ella fan for life. "The Jazz Samba The Jazz Samba Thrills You Through and Through..."
And while I am a huge Ellington fan, I don't feel that this collection represents his best work. When it's just Ellington and his band, Ella is sorely missed. You want her to come back out and grace us with her voice. --dan

"It don't mean a thing . . . if it ain't got that swing." ~ Duke Ellington ~

This awesome two-CD-set, "Ella and Duke at The Côte D'Azur" contains live performances of two of the most popular jazz artists America ever produced and both had earned worldwide recognition they so deserved. These performances were recorded live at the International Festival of Jazz in 1966. The Liner Notes by Michael Ulman state that "two of the most charming as well as abundantly gifted musicians of their time, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington shared an absolute dedication to their work and to the fans who came to see them." Here, there's a delightful musical exchange between Ella and Duke - a talent showdown they both so enjoyed as they shine radiantly in all of their performances.

Disc 1 starts off with "Mack The Knife," a highly spirited and most exuberant performance which is a showcase of the First Lady of Song's creativity in scat-singing. My highlights on this Disc include a light swing and scattin'-a-plenty "Lullaby of Birdland," "How Long Has This Been Going On," and a medley of "You Go To My Head" and "Going Out Of My Head."

Disc 2 opens up with the Duke's most famous signature song and a swing staple, "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing." Ella delivers "The More I See You" in her most emotional yet gentle treatment with only a piano accompaniment by Jimmy Jones. It is so beautiful! Erroll Garner's "Misty" and Antonio Carlos Jobim's "So Danco Samba" are stunningly wonderful performances with the backing of Jimmy Jones Trio.

This is Ella Fitzgerald in her swingiest form, at least for the most part. While listening to these CDs, allow yourself to be transported to The Côte D'Azur and be a part of the admiring and most appreciative audience. You'll surely have a grand musical journey!

I wouldn't try to argue that this is the best possible example of Ella's singing or of Duke's orchestral work... I would also like to point that it is a pitty there's no more interaction of the two giants (Ella performs some songs with her fine Jimmy Jones-led trio ) and that I seem to agree that -somehow- Ella works better with Basie, as one distinguished amazonaut once said on a Ella thread on the amazon discussionns...

In spite of that, the level of this double CD is still very high; not only swinging madly, it is also a nice vehicle to introduce Duke to Ella's fans and vice versa. Ella does both her scatting and her ballad routine, while Duke has some real gems - my favorite is the jubilant musical union of Ray Nance, Ben Webster and Lawrence Brown; three of the greatest Ellingtonians.

Recording quality is also fine and, if you already have a lot of Duke's or Ella's recordings you don't have two go for the entire box of their Cote d'azur... This double CD will suffice.

Friends more than 30 years and occassional collaborators for half that time, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington had by 1966 belonged to the world, not simply the jazz world. That meant they exchanged the jazzman's innovative cool for the warm professionalism of devoted crowds and a set list to send them home happy. "You made us sentimental, the way you received our show," Ella actually sings. "We want to squeeze you, don't want to tease you." (This little more than a month and a country away from Bob Dylan's "Royal Albert Hall" concerts, where he teased, enraged, then energized the folk-rock audience).

None of the live 2CD "Cote D'Azur" compilation stands with either artist's best work, but this set has highlights to spare. Ella loved balladry, and breathes and sips the melodies of Teddy Randazzo's "Goin' Out of My Head," "How Long Has This Been Goin' On?" and especially "The More I See You" like fine chardonnay. Ella pleases the crowd also, with skittering skats on "Lullaby of Birdland" and the trademark "Mack The Knife."

Duke does due diligence also with "It Don't Mean A Thing," but he and his band deliver a loose, rollicking performance highlighted by funky hornplay on "The Old Circus Train Turn-Around Blues," and some fine Johnny Hodges sax work on "Jive Jam."

Duke also gives a hipness lesson (learn from the best) in son Mercer's "Things Ain't What They Used To Be," closing with "You are very beautiful, very sweet, very gracious, and we love you madly." Despite the liner notes' tales of backstage turmoil (Ella's half-sister passing, arguments between Duke and Verve label head Norman Granz) you know Ellington meant it. The show must go on; it did, and well, and remains a recommended supplemental purchase on either artist.

I pity anyone who can listen to Ella sing "The More I See You" and not know he's heard a perfect thing. Her silky voice is in top form, her interpretation is devastating (she lost her half sister during this series of concerts, and had to shuttle to New York for the funeral, and back to honor her commitment), and her pitch impeccable. It's a polished, flawless diamond, seldom equalled, never bettered.

I had expected this to be Ella with Duke's band. Mostly it was
Ella and a trio. The title is misleading.

I didn't expect when I downloaded this album that I would listen to it over and over again but I'm addicted !
It's fabulous and don't let the haters talk you out of the treat of listening to one of the finest (and most fun) jazz albums ever.

Instead of using my words I'll just quote the Cole Porter song that Ella sings so amazingly well:


At words poetic I'm so pathetic that I always have found it best instead of getting 'em off my chest,To let 'em rest - unexpressed.
I hate parading my serenading, As I'll probably miss a bar, But if this ditty is not so pretty, At least it'll tell you how great you are.
You're the top! you're the Collosseum, You're the top! you're the Louvre Museum,
You're the melody from a symphony by Strauss,You're a Bendel bonnet, A Shakespeare sonnet,
You're Mickey Mouse! You're the Nile! you're the Tow'r of Pisa, You're the smile, on the Mona Lisa!

You're the top! You're the top, you're Mahatma Gandhi,You're the top! you're Napoleon brandy,
You're the purple light, of a summer night in Spain, You're the national gallery, you're Garbo's salary,
You're cellophane! You're sublime, you're a turkey dinner,You're the time, of the derby winner,I'm a toy balloon that's fated soon to pop;
But if baby I'm by the bottom you're the top! You're the top, you're a Waldorf Salad
You're the top, you're a Berlin ballad You're the nimble tread of the feet of Fred Astaire
You're an O'neal drama, you're Whistler's mama, you're camembert
You're a rose, you're Inferno's Dante
But if baby I'm the bottom,You're the top!

Buy the whole album just so you can hear Ella sing "Mack The Knife" and "It don't mean a thing". I've got several Ella Fitzgerald recordings but this one gets the most rotation.

This is truely Ella at her best. I had the album in the early 70's, but lost it. When I saw this at amazon I knew I had to have it. It is a Masterpiece, and I'm fortunate to have it again.