Ella Fitzgerald - The Concert Years

On this four-CD set are some of Ella Fitzgerald's finest live performances during the years she was managed by Norman Granz. All of the material (which is taken from ten different performances in 1953, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1983) was previously released on various Pablo albums. Since this is a best-of collection and was lovingly put together by the knowledgeable producer Eric Miller, the music is consistently rewarding and emphasizes the interpretive skills, scatting and jazz phrasing of the First Lady of Song. Although mostly backed by her trio/quartets of the period, Ella does get to jam "Perdido" with the 1953 JATP All-Stars, is backed by the Duke Ellington and Count Basie Orchestras on some songs and revisits "Flying Home" with an all-star group in 1983. The most remarkable performance is 1972's "C Jam Blues" which features Ella trading off remarkable musical jokes with Al Grey, Stan Getz, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Roy Eldridge. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Grey Trombone Angel Balestier Engineer Ben Webster Sax (Tenor) Benny Carter Sax (Alto) Benny Green Liner Notes Bill Harris Trombone Bill Hughes Trombone Bob Cranshaw Bass Bobby Durham Drums Bobby Plater Sax (Alto), Saxophone Bub Hooks Saxophone Buster Cooper Trombone Cat Anderson Trumpet Charlie Fowlkes Saxophone, Sax (Alto) Charlie Shavers Trumpet Chuck Conners Trombone Chuck Connors Trombone Clark Terry Trumpet Cootie Williams Trumpet Count Basie Piano Count Basie Orchestra Orchestra Curtis Peagler Saxophone, Sax (Alto) Danny Turner Sax (Alto), Saxophone Dave Richards Engineer David Luke Digital Transfers, Remixing, Editing Dennis Wilson Trombone Duke Ellington Piano Duke Ellington Orchestra Orchestra Ed Thigpen Drums Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Sax (Tenor) Ella Fitzgerald Vocals Eric Dixon Saxophone, Trombone, Sax (Alto) Eric Miller Compilation Producer, Remixing, Producer Flip Phillips Sax (Tenor) Frank DeLaRosa Bass Freddie Green Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) George Cohen Trumpet Gus Johnson Drums Harry "Sweets" Edison Trumpet Harry Carney Saxophone, Sax (Alto) Herb Ellis Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Herb Jones Trumpet J.C. Heard Drums J.J. Johnson Trombone Jimmy Forrest Saxophone, Sax (Alto) Jimmy Hamilton Saxophone, Sax (Alto) Jimmy Jones Piano Joe Comfort Bass Joe Pass Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar Joe Tarantino Engineer John Lamb Bass John Timperly Engineer John Williams Trombone, Trombone Johnny Hodges Saxophone, Sax (Alto) Kenny Hing Saxophone Keter Betts Bass Lawrence Brown Trombone Louie Bellson Drums Mel Wanzo Trombone Mercer Ellington Trumpet Mickey Roker Drums Mitchell Wood Trombone Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Bass Norman Granz Producer Oscar Peterson Piano Paul Cohen Trumpet Paul Gonsalves Sax (Alto), Saxophone Paul Smith Piano Pete Minger Trumpet Phil Carroll Art Direction Phil DeLancie Remixing Ray Brown Bass, Trumpet Ray Tunia Piano Roy Eldridge Trumpet Rufus "Speedy" Jones Drums Russell Procope Sax (Alto), Saxophone Sam Woodyard Drums Stan Getz Sax (Tenor) Tom Size Remixing Tommy Flanagan Piano Val Valentin Engineer Waymon Reed Trumpet Willie Smith Sax (Alto) Zoot Sims Sax (Tenor)