Ella Fitzgerald: The Chick Webb Years and Beyond 1935-1948 (Ken Vail's Jazz Itineraries 2) [Paperback]

Ken Vail (Author), Ron Fritts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2003 | Series: Ken Vail's Jazz Itineraries, 3

The Jazz Itineraries series, a new format based on Ken Vail's successful Jazz Diaries, charts the careers of famous jazz musicians, listing club and concert appearances with details of recording sessions and movie appearances. Copiously illustrated with contemporary photographs, newspaper extracts, record and performance reviews, ads and posters, the series provides fascinating insight into the lives of the greatest jazz musicians of our times.

No.2 in the series, co-authored by Ron Fritts, Ella Fitzgerald: The Chick Webb Years & Beyond 1935?1948, chronicles Ella's life from her discovery and development by Chick Webb, the shock of Webb's early death, her years as a bandleader, her success as a solo singer, marriage to Ray Brown and her first tour of England.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie are separate 100 page books presenting a chronological listing of performance dates and locations for these artists…if any of these is among your favorites you'll certainly spend a few hours following their travels with these books. (In The Groove )

Like cracking a scrapbook from the '40s…plastered with period photographs, newspaper articles, concert and record reviews…a fun and contextual perspective for listening and investigating as well as a window into the life and times of [Ella Fitzgerald]. (Jazz Times )

A well-referenced scrapbook, a collage of facts and contemporary reviews that is a pleasure to read yet visually satisfying, too. (New Orleans Music )

All three paperbacks make for fascinating reading, whether you start at the beginning or read random pages....these book are terrifically entertaining to read... (The Mississippi Rag )

A serious study resource and an eccentric delight. (The Jazz Rag )

Like cracking a scrapbook from the '40s?plastered with period photographs, newspaper articles, concert and record reviews?a fun and contextual perspective for listening and investigating as well as a window into the life and times of [Ella Fitzgerald]..... (Jazz Times )

About the Author

Ken Vail trained as a graphic designer and for 25 years developed his own graphic design business. The company moved from corporate work into publishing, specialising in designing highly illustrated educational books. In 1996 Ken Vail retired from the business to indulge his life-long interest in jazz. He self-published his first book, Jazz Milestones, which was critically acclaimed, leading to commissions for a series of Jazz Diaries which yielded Bird?s Diary, Lady Day?s Diary, Miles? Diary, and the two-part Duke?s Diary. Vail is now working on the new series of Jazz Itineraries and a scrapbook of the Swing Era.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (November 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810848813
• ISBN-13: 978-0810848818
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,569,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)