Customer Reviews

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book - 3CD Set

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If I have any warning at all before I leave this world, I will ask to hear Fitzgerald singing Gershwin while I eat my last meal.

On the heels of Ella, the glory of the angels' voices won't be so much of a shock.

First, I own the ENTIRE Ella Songbooks - a body of work in American popular song that is beyond reproach and will never appear again on this planet - a must listening if not an ownership!

Now, I'm not going to comment on all of the wonderful performances in this entire set, but must at least 'elevate' the overall rating of the 3 discs of the Gershwin brothers - one reviewer (I think mistakeningly down rated his star rating, i.e. 2*, despite his/her glowing comments) - thus, I'm simply putting this set into a better perspective.

Please, ignore a 2* rating, this is certainly 4 if not 5* - Ella does just a superb job in interpreting these songs; now whether you like them more 'jazzy' or w/ strings is another issue, but give them a chance, a decision not to be regetted!

I read in a book on Nelson Riddle that Ella Fitzgerald had wanted him for her first songbook which was on Cole Porter but unfortunately Riddle was booked with Nat King Cole and at times Sinatra so he was unavailable in '56. Fortunately three years he became available and perhaps it was serendipity or fate but when these two artists recorded the Gershwin songbook--it became an instant classic. I believe Riddle was at the peak of his arranging powers and Ella was in full voice with none of the wobbly vibrato that would later mar her last session with Riddle- "Dream Dancing", I believe on Pablo also produced by Norman Granz. But this set is a must have if you're into Ella's songbook series and of course this musical marriage between these two pros would result in six albums. Riddle was quoted as saying that Ella was his favorite female singer and his sensitivity to her artistry is brilliantly reflected in this album. For instance, Riddle took the risk of slowing down a tune that Ella had performed as a quick tempo scat song, but here the song takes a poignant meaning that makes this version a near classic on a par with the duo's rendition of "The Man I Love". In fact I believe this album is so popular that one can only purchase used since all the original copies are sold out. Nevertheless if you like Ella with Riddle, this songbook is the one to start with as well as their other two in the series, the Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer songbooks.

I love George Gershwin's music and I buy all that I can, but this has got to be one of the very best ones. Ella Fitzgerald is wonderful and this is three discs of great songs done with a jazz edge, yet not wigged out like so much jazz these days. She stays singing just in the groove, with the songs and beat of the music driving the song, not her very excellent voice only, but the combos playing behind her. Nelson Riddle is one of my all time favorite orchestra leaders. It all makes a great set of cds and the music is the best it could be, and I have Rosemary Clooney and Frank Sinatra doing the same songs of old. I have Michael Feinstein singing new music of Gershwin, and Ella does it best of all.

There aren't enough superlatives for this set. Ella Fitzgerald was the premiere female jazz vocalist of her generation. Nelson Riddle was the premiere orchestral arranger of his generation. Combine this with perfect sound, and you have an unparalleled recording.

Awesome CD's - "Beginners luck" was why I bought the CD's after hearing it on an episode of Private Practice and I just love it - the rest are just an added bonus!

Yes, this is a lovely piece of music;
Ella Fitzgerald is a superb singer, no doubt about it, the Gershwin material is more than suitable for her tallents and yet I feel somewhat dissatisfied... Well, I am a jazz fan, so the arrangements based on strings will hardly thrill me, but even the songs arranged without the strings are more Broadway than jazz...
And there are many singers who can sing good Broadway, so it's a pity Ella is used for a Broadway treatment of these songs.

However, this is a cultivated and subtle popular music, so I give it 4 stars, a bit more than I actually feel for the album.

Ella Fitgerald is arguably the greatest popular female vocalist the planet has yet seen. The Gershwins were the song- writing team supreme, and there is no one who tops the music of George. Put them together and you not only swing, you lilt and coo, and stomp and woo.
Ella can do it all with a lyric, and the pure tone of her voice brings out the essence of that musical freshness , that bright beauty which is the signature sound of young roaring twenties America.