Customer Reviews

Songs in a Mellow Mood

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Ella Fitzgerald's georgious voice is backed here by jazz pianist Ellis Larkins, for this intimate and beautiful session. They perform 12 great jazz standards all in a mellow yet jazzy tone. If you have the "Ella Sings Gershwin" on Decca(also backed by just Larkins) you'll love this one too. You might also be able to find Songs In A Mellow Mood/Ella Sings Gershwin compiled on one CD titled "Pure Ella" on Decca Jazz(not to be confused with the hophodge Verve compilation of the same title). This CD is highly recommended.

Songs In A Mellow Mood is yet another outstanding album from The First Lady Of Song, Miss Ella Fitzgerald. Ella was one of the two or three best female singers of the twentieth century; and it's even fair to say that she may well have been one of the best female singers of all time. Ella possessed the rare ability to infuse a ballad or just about any other type of song with so much passion that it became both instantly memorable and stunningly beautiful. The quality of the sound on this CD is excellent and the artwork is very pretty. This CD may cost you more money than some of her other albums; but it's worth it!

The album starts with Ella singing her heart out on "I'm Glad There Is You." "I'm Glad There Is You" has an elegant piano arrangement and Ella sings this sweet and slow to make it a most romantic number. "People Will Say We're in Love" was always one of my very favorite classic pop tunes; and when Ella tackles this she makes it shine brighter than silver and gold combined! Ella swings gently to make this all the better; and her excellent diction enhances her diction all the more. "People Will Say We're in Love" also makes great use of the piano--I love that arrangement!

"Please Be Kind" is a very pretty melody that Ella sings from the somewhat lower end of her vocal range; and I really like "Until The Real Thing Comes Along." "Until The Real Thing Comes Along" gets a sensitive treatment from The First Lady Of Song; Ella sings this passionately and she wears her heart on her sleeve. I'm very impressed. There's also a number made famous by the great Eddie Cantor, "Makin' Whoopee." "Makin' Whoopee" gets a spirited treatment from Ella who sings this without a hitch. The arrangement is both elegant and energizing in its own way; and "Makin' Whoopee" is a big highlight of this album.

"Imagination" is another big highlight of the CD; Ella bats this straight out of the ballpark seemingly effortlessly. Ella could do that just using her talents alone; she never really falters and that's great. "Stardust" is another very pretty ballad that Bette Davis reportedly loved to hear; and there's no doubt as to why when you hear this ballad. In addition, "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" gets a slower than normal tempo for this rendition but it remains quite strong and memorable when Ella gives it the royal treatment. "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" is another number that I always enjoy hearing; and Ella's rendition is clearly one of the better ones.

"Baby, What Else Can I Do?" has another fine pairing of Ella's vocals and a sublime piano arrangement; and the album ends strong with Ella Fitzgerald performing "Nice Work If You Can Get It." Ella sings this with heart and soul and it leaves me wanting more.

Overall, Songs In A Mellow Mood is precisely that: Ella Fitzgerald, that unforgettable songbird, singing her heart out in a mellow treatment of timeless ballads. This is a "must-have" for Ella's fans; and people who enjoy romantic classic pop vocals will cherish this album for many years to come.