We All Love Ella: Celebrating First Lady Song
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Music CD Cover
Edition: Music CDAudio: English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2007-06-05
Music Label: Verve
Soundtracks:
- A Tisket a Tasket - Natalie Cole
- Lullaby Of Birdland - Chaka Khan
- The Lady Is a Tramp - Queen Latifah
- Dream a Little Dream Of Me - Diana Krall
- (You'll Have To Swing It) Mr. Paganini - Natalie Cole
- Oh Lady Be Good! - Dianne Reeves
- Reaching For the Moon - Lizz Wright
- Blues In the Night - Ledisi
- Miss Otis Regrets - Linda Ronstadt
- Someone To Watch Over Me - Gladys Knight
- Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me - Etta James
- Angel Eyes - K.D. Lang
- Too Close For Comfort - Michael Buble
- You Are the Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder
- Airmail Special - Nikki Yanofsky
Free Music Notes for We All Love Ella: Celebrating First Lady Song
Free Music Review: "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life . . . Forever You'll Stay In My Heart"
Hit: 5 Stars
"It's been a privilege to be a part of this tribute to Ella. These artists have continued the legacy and lessons that she gave to us all. There's something magical about doing the work of Ella Fitzgerald." ~ Phil Ramone ~
What better way to commemorate the First Lady of Song's 90th birth anniversary this year than listening to this newly-released tribute CD, "We All Love Ella" consisting of 15 of the most significant songs identified with Ella Fitzgerald. The whole CD is just tremendous with a repertoire of timeless standards as interpreted by some of the best contemporary singers in jazz and R&B who injected a whole lot of new flavors to these enduring songs by the Gershwin Brothers, Rodgers & Hart, George Shearing, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Bob Russell and Benny Goodman, among many others. Most of the songs were arranged and conducted by a fine orchestrator Rob Mounsey, and some are from the creative charts of Billy Childs, Alan Broadbent and John Clayton.
For the opener, Natalie Cole sings an original composition by Ella which she co-wrote with Al Feldman, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" followed by Chaka Khan's take on "Lullaby of Birdland" done with a new twist. Cole and Khan team up as they present with pride and dedication one of the best tracks in this collection, "If You Can't Sing It, You'll Have To Swing It - aka Mr. Paganini."
Diana Krall with her distinctively sultry voice, presents an all-time favorite of mine "Dream A Little Dream Of Me." Michael Bublé's "Too Close For Comfort" is a show-stopper and as always he never fails to disappoint his fans with his flawless rendition of this song with a fresh and an absolutely beautiful arrangement by Billy Childs. It's one of my top favorites here.
One of my highlights is a performance with Stevie Wonder recorded in 1977 in New Orleans. Stevie tells Ella ... "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and they exchanged compliments to each other before performing this duet.
Queen Latifah somewhat stole the show with her impressive delivery of "The Lady Is A Tramp," one of the best versions of this oftenly-recorded song. Billy Childs once again showed off his superb chart arrangement on this track. Bravo to both of you!
Gladys Knight, Dianne Reeves, Linda Ronstadt, k.d. lang and Etta James have always impressed me with their musicalities and their vocal styles. Their respective versions of "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Oh, Lady Be Good," "Miss Otis Regrets," "Angel Eyes" and "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" are some of the best female versions ever recorded.
Lizz Wright, whom I first appreciated when she recorded "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" with one of my favorite saxophonists, David Sanborn, on a CD entitled Closer, shines anew with her charming take on "Reaching For The Moon." "Blues In The Night" was given a new treatment by Ledesi, whom I hadn't heard until now but she gives credence and justice to this song that would have made Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen beam with pride.
Nikki Yanofsky sings the bonus track and the final song in the repertoire, "Airmail Special."
In sum, this is one of the greatest tributes to the artistry and legacy of the one-and-only First Lady of Song. I wholeheartedly recommend this not only for her fans but also to the fans of all the artists involved in this wonderful tribute. It's worth it since a portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation, which provides grants in the areas of music education and appreciation, academic enrichment, and work with disadvantaged children. Not only you'll enjoy this CD but you'll be helping the Foundation as well.
Truly, we all love Ella!
We All Love Ella: Celebrating First Lady Song Poster
Covering songs made famous by Ella Fitzgerald is a daunting endeavor, since only Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan challenge her place as the premier female jazz vocalist in history. But the late Fitzgerald inspired and influenced a wide array of talented acolytes--from Natalie Cole to k.d. lang to Dianne Reeves--many of whom gather on this spirited, Phil Ramone-produced tribute to partially benefit the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation. Cole, backed by an eager gaggle of call-and-response male worshippers, breathes fun new life into the swingy "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," while Chaka Khan, showcasing the breadth of her range, delivers a transporting rendition of the enchanting jazz blues "Lullaby of Birdland." (The two also team up for a delicious scat-fest on "Mr. Paganini.") If lang is equally transfixing on the ballad "Angel Eyes," it's newcomer Ledisi who steals the show with "Blues in the Night," her expansive soprano often mimicking a muted or full-tilt trumpet, one of Fitzgerald's hallmarks. Performances from Etta James and Nikki Yanofsky also rivet, even if Diana Krall and Hank Jones's "Dream a Little Dream of Me" comes across as a little too sleepy, and Gladys Knight is probably not the best singer for "Someone to Watch Over Me." The album surprises with a live duet ("You Are the Sunshine of My Life") between Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder, recorded at the 1977 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Although it seems tacked on, it doesn't grate nearly as much as Michael Bublé's "Too Close for Comfort," so slick it would put an eel to shame. Skip over that transgression, and turn to the antidote of Lizz Wright's sultry take on the melancholy "Reaching for the Moon," which plumbs emotional depths not even the ever-joyous Great Lady managed to attain. --Alanna NashBroadway & Vocalists Music CDs
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