One of the few real queens of jazz singing, Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) was an inspiring individual who, against all odds, rose from extreme poverty to fame thanks to her immense talents. In a world where female vocalists were usually beautiful stylized girls, Ella's inimitable voice and swing earned her a place above the rest and in almost no time she became the Chick Webb orchestra's primary draw. From then on, she sang and recorded with many of the most important jazz figures and was revered as a living legend throughout the remainder of her life.
This DVD showcases her in the company of two of the greatest jazz men of all time: Duke Ellington, with whom Ella collaborated many times during the late fifties and early sixties, and Benny Goodman, with whom she would only record on a 1936 studio session and a couple of TV shows. The two selections offered here come from one of those broadcasts. They include a wonderful rendition of "Ridin' High" with the two musicians backed by an All-Star Big Band and a small group medley in which Ella alternates vocals with Jo Stafford. The 1968 program with Duke was, in fact, Ella's own show, and she can be seen introducing some of the tunes. Taken from old kinescopes, the image quality on these shows is not up to today's standards. However, their historical and musical importance clearly compensates for such deficiencies.
DVD - All Zone |