Although both Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong had met and performed together previously, they wouldn't be heard on record together until January 18, 1946, when they waxed a single 78-rpm disc ("You Won't Be Satisfied) for Decca. They went on to record a few more singles together until in 1956 when producer Norman Granz paired the two together between 1956 and 1957 on three albums that were both critically acclaimed and commercial successes - appealing to audiences in and beyond the confines of jazz per se: Ella & Louis, its sequel Ella & Louis Again, and the selection of songs from George Gershwin's opera Porgy & Bess.

While Porgy & Bess was recorded with a big band, the first two albums (featured in this release) were made in small group formats with the great Oscar Peterson Trio plus drummers Buddy Rich or Louie Bellson, resulting in some of the most fascinating jazz and popular music ever produced.

TRACK LISTING

1. Can't We Be Friends
2. Isn't This A Lovely Day?
3. Moonlight In Vermont 
4. They Can't Take That Away From Me
5. Under A Blanket Of Blue
6. Tenderly
7. A Foggy Day
8. Stars Fell On Alabama
9. Cheek To Cheek
10. The Nearness Of You
11. April In Paris
12. Don't Be That Way
13. They All Laughed
14. Autumn In New York 
15. Stompin' At The Savoy
16. I Won't Dance
17. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 
18. Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You?
19. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
20. I'm Puttin' All My Eggs In One Basket
21. A Fine Romance
22. Love Is Here To Stay
23. Learnin' The Blues

Ella Fitzgerald took the stage on Friday the 13th in 1979 at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the PWA hall. This unique vinyl release finally showcases this superb performance by one of jazz’s greatest- ever vocalists on stage at one of the most unique and iconic jazz festivals in the world.

PWA Zaal, Friday July 13, 1979 – the Hague, the Netherlands. Ella Fitzgerald (vocals), Paul Smith (piano), Keter Betts (double bass), Mickey Roker (Drums) - officially recorded by the Dutch Public Broadcasting companies at the North Sea Jazz Festival and officially licensed for this vinyl release.

''Ella and Louis' is some of the most fascinating and commercially successful jazz music ever produced. This was the first of the three LPs Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong made for jazz producer Norman Granz between 1956 and 1957 (the other two were the sequel Ella & Louis Again and a selection of tunes from George Gershwin's folk opera Porgy & Bess).

While the latter utilised a big orchestra conducted by Russell Garcia, the first two albums were made in a small group format. And what an incredible small group! The Oscar Peterson Trio, featuring Herb Ellis, Ray Brown (who had been Ella's husband) and Buddy Rich (on the second album the drum chair was covered by Louie Bellson).

TRACK LISTING

Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald's paths had surely crossed many times during the Thirties, Forties, and early Fifties. However, no recorded trace of the two legendary musicians collaborating exists until 1957, when Norman Granz produced a series of big band and small group sessions. This album presents Ella singing Ellington tunes backed by a small group featuring tenor saxophonist Ben Webster and legendary violinist Stuff Smith, plus Ella's regular accompanist Paul Smith and the great Oscar Peterson sharing the piano, and Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis taking turns on guitar. "Webster and Smith solo in their highly singular manner with Ben's take- off on 'Rocks' the climax of the song. Stuff is angular, probing and strong in his solo on 'I Let a Song'. The slow- walking 'Squeeze Me' is individualized by a unison blend among Ella, Stuff and Ben. These are history-making sessions. An absolute must in any library." - ***** John A. Tynan, DownBeat

TRACK LISTING

1. Don't Get Around Much Anymore 
2. Prelude To A Kiss 
3. In A Sentimental Mood 
4. Sophisticated Lady 
5. Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' 
6. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart 
7. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me 
8. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) 
9. Azure 
10. Rocks In My Bed 
11. Lush Life 
12. Mood Indigo

Known worldwide as "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was one of the finest female jazz vocalists of all time. Blessed with a highly resonant voice, wide range, and near-perfect diction, she was famous for her infectious swing and her imaginative scat singing. Ella was also a highly talented interpreter of ballads, as proved by the selections heard on the present album, on which she is backed by small groups including such masters as Oscar Peterson, Lou Levy, Paul Smith, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, and Louie Bellson, among others.

TRACK LISTING

Misty
Stella By Starlight
Wait Till You See Her
Bewitched
With A Song In My Heart
Get Out Of Town
Easy To Love
Cry Me A River
This Year's Kisses
Ill Wind
Comes Love
These Foolish Things
'round Midnight

"This is a delightful Christmas jazz issue featuring Ella Fitzgerald in prime form. Fitzgerald clearly had a fun time recording such songs. These concise performances (all under four minutes) are charming, making this one of the better Christmas jazz sets." - ***** Scott Yanow, AllMusic

TRACK LISTING

Jingle Bells
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
Sleigh Ride
The Christmas Song
Medley: We Three Kings Of Orient Are/O Little Town Of Bethlehem
White Christmas
Frosty The Snowman
Good Morning Blues
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Winter Wonderland
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Christmas Island
The Secret Of Christmas
Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

'Porgy & Bess' was the third and final album collaboration between Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and producer Norman Granz. Featuring songs from the George & Ira Gershwins opera, which was inspired by the DuBose Heyward play 'Porgy', it received both critical acclaim and commercial success internationally.

"As the tracks progress, you think she is cutting Armstrong - only to turn around and believe that Armstrong is cutting her. The truth, of course, is that they are outdoing themselves. This is a Porgy performance you would be ill- advised to miss." - Gene Lees, DownBeat

TRACK LISTING

Overture
Summertime
I Wants To Stay Here
My Man’s Gone Now
I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’
Buzzard Song
Bess, You Is My Woman Now
It Ain’t Necessarily So
What You Want Wid Bess?
A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
Oh, Doctor Jesus / Medley: Here Come De Honey Man
Crab Man
Oh, Dey's So Fresh And Fine (Strawberry Woman)
There's A Boat Dat’s Leavin' Soon For New York
Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess?
Oh, Lawd, I’m On My Way
You Won’t Be Satisfied
Undecided

Reissue of Ella Fitzgerald's 1969 album of funky big-band cover versions, conducted by and featuring Tommy Flanagan on piano.

Ella Fitzgerald singing Eric Clapton's "Sunshine of Your Love", or the Beatles' "Hey Jude"? Something of a revelation for those who know Fitzgerald as purely a jazz singer. Ella's pristine clarity of earlier years, now tinged with a throaty worldliness, is a perfect foil to her choices from the world of rock and pop. It also adds new depth to such standards as "Give Me the Simple Life", "Old Devil Moon", and Burt Bachrach's "A House is Not a Home".

Recorded "live", the album is divided into a big band set and Ella with her longtime accompaniment, the Tommy Flanagan trio. Pianist Flanagan is simply one of the all-time greats. After listening to this, how can you not be a fan of Ella's?

Includes the original liner notes from Norman Granz, who produced this record.

TRACK LISTING

Hey Jude
Sunshine Of Your Love
This Girl's In Love With You
Watch What Happens
Alright, Okay, You Win
Useless Landscape
Old Devil Moon
Don'cha Go 'Way Mad
A House Is Not A Home
Trouble Is A Man
Love You Madly
Give Me The Simple Life

Ella Fitzgerald is widely heralded for her clean phrasing, scat-singing and a confident sense of swing. Viewed as one of the world's most popular jazz singers, she performed alongside Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington. Her outstanding performances on record and live yielded both critical and popular success during her lifetime.

'Lullabies Of Birdland' consists of recordings from 1945 to 1955. It offers a wonderful set of Swing-era standards, impossible to listen to without imagining yourself sipping cognac in a smoky jazz club on Broadway!

STAFF COMMENTS

Millie says: I can’t resist some lively jazz, especially the fabulous Ella Fitzgerald. Oh what a voice! I first discovered the music of Ella Fitzgerald in a small bookshop and had to know what was playing – It was ‘Under a Blanket of Blue’ with Louis Armstrong; it’s been a favourite of mine ever since. This incredible and powerful album is a treat to the ears.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Lullaby Of Birdland
2. Rough Ridin'
3. Angel Eyes
4. Smooth Sailing
5. Oh, Lady Be Good!
6. Later

Side B
1. Ella Hums The Blues
2. How High The Moon
3. Basin Street Blues
4. Air Mail Special
5. Flying Home