Ella was always at her finest when in company with Duke Ellington and his orchestra, and this 1957 outing from Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook captures every entity involved at peak form.
Ellington sets the tone with some boozy barroom piano, followed by a weeping, wailing solo by Johnny Hodges on alto and some fiery shouting and moaning from Cat Anderson on trumpet before Ella's entry. Her soulful reading sways perfectly over the dark hues of the band's slow groove.
This was the one of the first Ella recordings I ever heard, and my very first time hearing Hodges and Anderson, and my first time hearing an entire Ellington song. She led me to jump into the Ellington catalogue. I was 12 years old. It changed my whole life.
I've never found anything that confirms it, but I've always been convinced the unique sound the slurring reed section has on this recording is partially due to the inclusion of Stuff Smith on violin doubling the tenor sax part. I can't prove it, but he did play violin on another track on this album, so it's entirely possible. Do you feel like you hear a violin in there??
Sam Woodyard on drums and Jimmy Woode on bass propel the whole thing alone with both muscle and measure...and notice you don't hear a piano after those first few seconds. Duke was too busy conducting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Ev3lXaqZ0
Ella 101 is a daily look at 101 essential recordings by Ella Fitzgerald, who was born 101 years ago this month. Tune in to Equinox, Monday nights from 8 - 11 p.m. on WYSO, to hear Ella and more great jazz with host Duante Beddingfield.
