Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book [Verve]

by Ella Fitzgerald

Overview

Ella Fitzgerald's outstanding songbook series has become an institution unto itself. This 1957 effort is distinguished from Fitzgerald's other songbooks in that it is the only album in which the composer whose work she is singing actively participates. In fact, these recordings are packed with some of the key figures in 20th century jazz. As if Ella and Duke weren't enough, Ellington's arranger/composer Billy Strayhorn, guest musicians Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson, and brilliant record producer Norman Granz all have a hand in the proceedings. And what better backing band could one want than Duke's orchestra? The usual suspects -- Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, and Sam Woodyard, among others -- contribute fine performances throughout. Duke's spectacular catalog dazzles, and his sprightly, lush textures are transfigured under Fitzgerald's warm-timbred voice and elegant, precise delivery. Included here are classics like "Rockin' in Rhythm," "Caravan," "Satin Doll," "Sophisticated Lady," "Prelude to a Kiss," and "It Don't Mean a Thing...," each tune as familiar as it is delightful to hear in this new context.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/17/2009
Label:	Disconforme / Essential Jazz / Essential Jazz Classics
UPC:	8436028694266
Rank:	58812

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Cotton Tail
2. Do Nothin' till You Hear From Me
3. Just a-Sittin' and a-Rockin'
4. Solitude
5. Rocks In My Bed
6. Satin Doll
7. Sophisticated Lady
8. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
9. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
10. Azure
11. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
12. In a Sentimental Mood
13. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
14. Prelude To a Kiss
15. Mood Indigo
16. In a Mellow Tone
17. Love You Madly
18. Lush Life
19. Squatty Roo

Disc 2

20. Rockin' In Rhythm
21. Drop Me Off In Harlem
22. Day Dream
23. Caravan
24. Take the "a" Train
25. I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues
26. Clementine
27. I Didn't Know About You
28. I'm Beginning To See the Light
29. Lost In Meditation
30. Perdido
31. I'm Just a Lucky So and So
32. All Too Soon
33. Everything But You
34. I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)
35. Blip-Blip
36. Chelsea Bridge
37. The E and D Blues (E For Ella, D For Duke)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ella Fitzgerald   Primary Artist,Vocals
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra,Featured Artist
Duke Ellington Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra,Featured Artist
Billy Strayhorn   Guest Artist,Piano
Johnny Hodges   Guest Artist,Sax (Alto)
Oscar Peterson   Guest Artist,Piano,Featured Artist
Harry Carney   Guest Artist,Bass,Clarinet,Clarinet (Bass)
Barney Kessel   Guest Artist,Guitar
Stuff Smith   Guest Artist,Violin
Ben Webster   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Clark Terry   Guest Artist,Cowbell,Trumpet
Herb Ellis   Guest Artist,Guitar
Duke Ellington   Guest Artist,Piano,Conductor
Dizzy Gillespie   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Willie Cook   Cowbell,Trumpet
Frank Foster   Sax (Tenor)
Russell Procope   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Cat Anderson   Cowbell,Trumpet
Joe Mondragon   Bass
Sam Woodyard   Drums
Jimmy Hamilton   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
John Sanders   Trombone,Trombone (Valve)
Britt Woodman   Trombone
Alvin Stoller   Drums
Paul Gonsalves   Sax (Tenor)
Shorty Baker   Trumpet
Paul Smith   Piano
Jimmy Woode   Bass
Ray Brown   Bass
Quentin Jackson   Trombone
Mercer Ellington   Claves
Ray Nance   Violin,Trumpet

Technical Credits

Ervin Drake   Composer
Harry Carney   Composer
Harry James   Composer
Manny Kurtz   Composer
Seth Rothstein   Preparation
Ellie Hughes   Design,Art Direction
Sidney Keith Russell   Composer
Nick Kenny   Composer
Hans Lengsfelder   Composer
Burt Goldblatt   Photography
Emanuel Kurtz   Composer
Louis Singer   Composer
Michelle Nicolle   Arranger
Charles F. Kenny   Composer
Don George   Composer
Ella Fitzgerald   Composer
Mack David   Composer
Leonard Feather   Liner Notes
Lee Gaines   Composer
Dennis Drake   Remixing
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Lou Singer   Composer
Louis C. Singer   Composer
Juan Tizol   Composer
Richard Seidel   Preparation
John Sanders   Composer
Norman Granz   Liner Notes,Production Supervisor,Producer
Oscar Peterson   Duet
Milt Gabler   Composer
Johnny Hodges   Composer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Tom Hughes   Design,Art Direction
Henry Nemo   Composer
Carl Sigman   Composer
Paul Francis Webster   Composer
Larry Fotine   Composer
Barney Kessel   Duet
Barney Bigard   Composer
Charles Kenny   Composer
John Redmond   Composer
John Latouche   Composer
Sid Kuller   Composer
Bob Russell   Composer
Eddie DeLange   Composer
Irving Mills   Composer
Irving Gordon   Composer
Duke Ellington   Composer,Narrator
Billy Strayhorn   Composer,Narrator
Nick A. Kenny   Composer
Otto Hardwick   Composer