Ella Fitzgerald Centenary Celebration Releases

Norman Granz had become Ella's personal manager in 1953 on a handshake. He believed in her quality without question, but was frustrated with her Decca sessions and her exclusion from the best clubs in the nation. By 1955, he managed to get Decca to issue some better sessions, running up to the end of her Decca contract at the end of 1955. In 1955, he was finally able to get Ella booked into the very best clubs in America. Her legendary Verve sessions started in 1956.

So this arrest, at a harmless "after show" party, coincided with Ella's bookings at the best clubs in each city. That must have angered city officials and police in Houston. Given Norman Granz' ferocious dedication to equal rights, this must have blown his top. I don't have evidence, but I bet the arrest was very ugly, with all the standard tactics directed at minorities. Ella was traumatized at the onset of her glory years. She had great strength to go on and achieve what she did in the next few years.

This image was earlier in 1955, after Marilyn gave some help to get Ella booked in the best LA clubs. This kind of stuff pissed some people off.






The other woman is Ella's cousin with Dizzy and Illinois Jacquet, also playing in Houston that night.



This is how Marilyn Monroe forced the LA Clubs to book Ella in early 1955. She followed through and attended every show. The club owners were interested in Marilyn being there, but Ella ended up breaking through. Ella must have been devastated when Marilyn died.

 

In the gig where Ella was arrested, it was part of a JATP show, and Dizzy, Jacquet and Granz were in Ella's dressing room after the show relaxing by tossing some dice. It was not like these artists and their tour manager were trying to rob each other's earnings, but more having something to do and laugh about as they came down from the intensity of their show. BOOM. The door comes off and they are arrested.

It had more to do with the fact that Norman Granz, a civil rights activist, insisted his tour would not play to segregated audiences, nor would his tour acts be forced to dress in their cars or the bus, but have private dressing rooms. A first, especially in the south.

You might say it was a symbolic arrest, intended to make a statement. But that statement was very profound. It had to do with this same type of racism evident in this circular, which is from the mid 1960's:

 

It blows my mind to realize this flier is from New Orleans...

 

I downloaded the hi res versions from hdtracks and downsampled them to 44.1/16 bit and they sound identical to the Dennis Drake mastered editions? Is it just me or can anyone confirm this?

 

Just in case anybody wishes to buy the Vinyl Box Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George And Ira Gershwin Song Books, it has been dropping in price daily for the last week on Amazon UK and today is £65 which I think is a bargain, despite some negative reviews.

 

"Ella at Zardi's" 2LP is phenomenal!

 

How good is it?
I'm thinking about picking it up.
The hi rez. download is very good. Done very nicely at 192/24.
Has anyone heard both the LP and the download?
Does anyone know how the LP was done? I'm assuming just the 192/24 files to vinyl. But does anyone know different?

 

We forget what things were like in America before the civil rights movement.
And how much people like Norman Granz, the Lion brothers, Sinatra and others did at the time.
Just having Sammy Davis up on stage with white guys must have been pretty major at the time.

 

It is interesting that the performers on stage were integrated before any integration of the audience was allowed or accepted, even in the north.

 

Yeah, what things were like in America of the 50's and early '60s is unimaginable today.

Anyway, reviews of the LP of Ella at Zardis - any advantages over the digital download?

 

My favorite Ella live concert is Ella Fitzgerald, Live at the Concertgebouw 1961.

Such a fabulous concert, mastered beautifully from Fondamenta/Devialet. Both vinyl and CD (mono) have superb sound quality...much better than any Sinatra or Bennett concert that I own.....

 

In an Ella mood this evening, listening to Analogue Productions' SACDs of Ms Fitzgerald. Any news to report in Ella-land? I'd love to hear of some nice reissues on the horizon...

 

It was 81 years ago today that Ella Fitzgerald announced in Billboard that she would continue with the Chick Webb Band as the leader, according to Chick's last wishes.

Ella started her first gig as the leader of the band the very next day July 6, 1939, in Loew's Theater, where Chick Webb had started the whole thing off.

This blurred image was certainly intended by the owner, from later that year



Now as far as Ella is concerned, she can represent our nation far better than most politicians

 

An announcement over at Pitchfork.com:

Rare Ella Fitzgerald 1962 Live Album The Lost Berlin Tapes Announced

 

My guess is that there must be a massive archive of live Ella recordings.

Why doesn't Verve issue the rest of Ella's Verve singles?

 

Does anyone know why Ella’s Live Shrine recording never came out on CD and is only available on LP and streaming?

 

Not enough songs / length of program to justify a CD release? Vinyl is more profitable for the record companies especially for rare and exclusive material like this.

 

I was just listening to this on Spotify and I had no idea about Ella and Louis' 8 Decca singles. So damn charming. The live recordings on this set as well as the alternate takes make this set worthy of a purchase. So wonderful.

Rob

 

(from UHQCD thread)
Uni continue to reissue their stuff with UHQ pressing.
This time it is going to be 10 Ella Fitzgerald’s albums ($16.99).
Clamp Hands, Here Comes… Ella!
Really?
Is this a new remaster? - Absolutely not.
Did they mention which remaster they will use? - It's my pleasure.
So what to expect? I had to dig into previous releases of each title to figure out which remaster the new release might be based on, and put a few notes after the title description.

Oct. 07, 2020

(UHQCD)
Ella Fitzgerald Porgy and Bess
Ella Fitzgerald Ella And Louis Again
Ella Fitzgerald At The Opera House + 9
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Swings Lightly + 4
Ella Fitzgerald Get Happy! + 2
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas + 6
Ella Fitzgerald Ella In Hollywood
Ella Fitzgerald Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! + 3
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Swings Brightly With Nelson + 3
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Returns To Berlin

“Reissue from Ella Fitzgerald in UHQCD format.”

(translation)
“[Ella Fitzgerald Verve Masterpiece Selection (UHQCD)]
Ella Fitzgerald is loved by many fans as a leading jazz vocalist of the 20th century.
In commemoration of "Ella Discovered! Back in Berlin" (UCCV-1182), an unreleased live recording in Berlin in October 1962, which will be released on October 2, from the album that she left in the Verve era, when she reached her peak, 10 well-known titles were selected to make them first UHQCD.
This is a must-see for fans, including some CDs for the first time in Japan!”

Ella’s 1962 Berlin tapes were found and released worldwide including Japan with SHM treatment:

“This work became a live sound source recorded in Berlin in 1962, and was previously stored as a private collection of Norman Grants. … This is a valuable sound source, which contains 16 powerful songs, she sang during her heyday…"



This is good news, but raised 2 questions:
If this is such a big deal that 10 more of her albums will be released in commemoration of this, why is it not UHQ pressing?
And why will these 10 equally valuable albums, which have remained untouched for so many years, finally get printed on UHQ, but do not deserve the sound re-treat?

I only have an answer to the first one: because the price for this SHM release is already at its height - $24.54. And Ella's fans will buy it anyway...
I hope that in a year or so I will have the opportunity to see it reissued on UHQ at the regular price of $17.

(translation)
Porgy and Bess [UHQCD] [Limited Edition] / Ella Fitzgerald
“A dramatic and moving story continues from "Summertime" to the climax, where Ella & Louis sing with a unique expression.
An immortal masterpiece that has won the Grammy Awards.”

Ella and Louis Again [UHQCD] [Limited Edition] / Ella Fitzgerald
“This is a sequel that was released after "Ella and Louis", a super-luxury competition that shines in jazz history.
You can fully enjoy the rich music by two legends, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.”

These two titles were remastered by Seth Foster at the Universal Mastering Studios-East as a part of the 4CD 8-panel Digipak 100th Anniversary Campaign (2 tasteful booklets w/complete discography, photos and more):









Will this wonderful remaster be used for the new UHQCD release ?

Cheek to Cheek


Ella and Louis Learnin' the Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMIArNBLxMo
Moonlight in Vermont
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbaS0-YEFIs

toilet_doctor, Aug 27, 2020 #2284

 

Ella At The Opera House +9 [UHQCD] [Limited Edition] / Ella Fitzgerald
“Another masterpiece live album alongside "Ella in Berlin" left by "First Lady of Jazz".
Up-tempo and ballads are in great shape backing with All Stars including Oscar Peterson.
Includes two stages: Opera House and Shrine Auditorium. 9 bonus tracks.”

I think it will be reprinting on UHQ of the 2016 SHM release with the same 2000 mastering, used for the Mini LP series ‘Verve Super Best 50’:





Again, it is my guess only because there are no credit notes in the SHM reissue at all. To say: “Up-tempo and ballads are in great shape “, would be a stretch. The sound is mostly open and clear, but on several main tracks Ella sounds from the middle of the stage and the bass is shy. Bonus tracks are much better in this regard, but have a heavy “S” brightness in vocals.
Will they do something about all of this? I don’t think so.

It’s great content, though – I love it a lot.

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered


Ill Wind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDruHkBX4AM
Don’Cha Go ‘Way Mad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BMReqJ9l1A



Ella Swings Lightly + 4 [UHQCD] [Limited Edition] / Ella Fitzgerald
“This is a representative studio work that won the Grammy award, with Ella singing swinging at the peak,
following the gorgeous performance of Marty Peach's big band. 4 bonus tracks.”

This album was released in Verve 60th Anniversary series in 2016 on SHM.
(I don’t have it, but another one from this series Ella ‘Whisper Not’ – no credit notes, nothing).



This will most likely be the UHQ version of the 2016 SHM release, which (again, more likely) based on 1992 Verve remaster by Suha Gur.
I don’t see any 24-bit remaster for this album – maybe tape has been lost.
In this case, it’s perhaps the best sound we can get. I have to buy it to compare with what I have.

Ella swings lightly… She really does:

Oh, What a Night for Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru71Xh80_Xk
What’s Your Story, Morning Glory?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFNgmnU03_g
Knock Me a Kiss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-LAvIqIR6Y
Blues in The Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQRfPbwzTKo
As Long as I Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GGtOY1Uo_Y


Get Happy! + 2 [UHQCD] [Limited Edition] / Ella Fitzgerald
”This is a 1959 recording with impressive orchestration. The overwhelming scat performance at "Blue Skies" is a must-see.
The first CD in Japan. 2 bonus tracks.”

This more likely will be 1998 24/96 remaster by Kevin Reeves, used for Verve Digipak series 'Verve by Request' with good remastering:



I’m going to buy this excellent album on UHQCD to "get happy" - will comment on the sound.

Sweet and Lovely
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4o4Hfkt_Wk
My Old Flame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHA-Cg28W_M
That Old Feeling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA7hT-Zr70A
Blue Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgevD2EGvO4




Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas [UHQCD] [Limited Edition] / Ella Fitzgerald
“This is a Christmas album that Ella recorded for the first time in 1960 with the orchestra in the background. Listen to Ella swinging famous Christmas popular songs made in the United States. 6 bonus tracks.”

“It'd be hard to imagine a happier wish than the one this jazz vocal legend offers her listeners on this urbane-yet-homey collection of holiday favorites. The First Lady of Song recorded these tunes in 1960, at the peak of her interpretive powers. As such, she puts her singular stamp on everything from a sultry vamp like "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" to the sweet and cozy "The Christmas Song." Even potentially shopworn standards like "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" sound fresher when they're coming from Ella Fitzgerald.” -- David Sprague

I found only one 2002 Verve remastering, but I don't have it.

Good Morning Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af6O3-jOUBc

toilet_doctor, Aug 27, 2020 #2285

 

All easy passes for me. The post 80s remastering is very poor. They're best avoided. The Dennis Drake remasters are the ones you want.

What is UHQ? Another gimmick like SHM?

 

Ella In Hollywood [UHQCD] [Limited Edition] / Ella Fitzgerald
“This is a live recording with the same members as the masterpiece "Ella in Berlin" including the hit song "Mr. Paganini".
You can hear the singing of the maturity of the time.”

All points to the Mini LP CD from the ‘Verve Essential and Rare Collection’ series with a 24/96 dedicated 2004 remaster.
All my Mini LPs from this series sound very good, including "Ella in Hollywood":



However, if we talk about music, then in my opinion, Ella a little went overboard with scatting, though not on all tracks.
Believe or not, but she literally sang about what she was doing: “I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m going…” Listen before you buy.

Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home


Satin Doll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EALTgBiCYf0



Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! [UHQCD] [Limited Edition] / Ella Fitzgerald
“This is a 1961 film that was recorded along with quartets such as Herb Ellis, which is a must-see for fans, including the first domestic CD.
Contains plenty of famous songs such as "A Night In Tunisia", "Round Midnight", and "Cry Me A River". 3 bonus tracks.”

I don't know what Uni will do with this album because it was last released 31 years ago.
I have a 2012 AP SACD, which I can describe as sounded very good (beside first track ‘A Night In Tunisia’):



Round Midnight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POAJNG9sLEQ
Cry Me A River
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk3lU4ocs5o
Stella by Starlght
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4Xv63dSM7Q
You Are My Trill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5OxrYqqWjY



Ella Swings Brightly With Nelson [UHQCD] [Limited Edition] / Ella Fitzgerald
“This work is a Grammy Award-winning masterpiece created by Nelson Riddle for the orchestra arrangement, including the first CD in Japan!
The outstanding swing feeling, which can be said that the true performance of Ella is fully demonstrated. 3 bonus tracks.”

“The three Ella Swings albums (Lightly with Marty Paich and Brightly and Gently with Nelson Riddle) are rightly regarded as three of her finest albums, which considering the body of work she recorded is some accolade. One critic worried that Ella might be running out of worthwhile material to record, but this proved unfounded; Ella Swings Brightly was a commercial and critical success, going on to enable Ella to collect the Grammy Award for Best Female Vocal Performance at the fifth annual event, held in 1963, her seventh such award.”

Although they claimed “the first CDs in Japan!”, this album was on CD in Japan twice, in 1986 as a flat transfer:
“The Verve Vocal Collection Series, which converts a jazz vocal album from a Verve sound source into a CD. 1986 recording board containing 12 songs including "Alone Together" arranged by Nelson Riddle.” And it was re-printed in 1998:



However, 3 bonus tracks suggest another sound source - this album was remastered by Verve in 1991, but it was not released in Japan.

Love Me or Leave Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOtez0Lz0u4
Alone Together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhiTcdTEGi0


Ella Returns to Berlin [UHQCD] [Limited Edition] / Ella Fitzgerald
Swigging performance with Herb Ellis guitar added to the piano trio is irresistible. The first CD in Japan.”

Again, like the album ‘Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson’, this ‘Ella Returns to Berlin’ was remastered by Verve in 1991 and released worldwide, including Japan:





Rocket for Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RbOl9oQiCM
Anything Goes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPWLg6L4afI

What is Universal going to do now… reprint this 29-year old remaster on UHQCD?
Why not?
Because it is an American treasure and heritage. - That’s why.
Because Ella is highly regarded all over the world. - That’s why.
Because if you don't have respect for us, your customers and supporters,
then at least show respect for the memory of one of the greatest jazz singers. - That’s why.
I wish that instead of guessing, scratching my head and posting so much possibly incorrect information,
I could just say one phrase: the new 2020 flat transfer from OMT. - Is it too much to ask?
And Universal could use this transfer for the 10 Mini LP MQA UHQCD set in gorgeous
Ella Returns to Berlin Promo Box next holiday season and make some money. - That’s why.
Another opportunity to strengthen the MQA UHQCD project has been missed.

Clamp hands, here comes Ella! I wish to say that, but sadly I can’t.

toilet_doctor, Aug 27, 2020 #2286

 

Hi all, maybe not the thread to ask in ...

I've seen this and wondered about if it's worth getting ?

 

That looks really suspect to me, personally. Likely a gray-market release. Surely the material is available elsewhere on a legitimate label. I notice what looks like the song title "Moonlight in Vermont" on the center label, but it says "...in the Vermont" - not a good sign.

 

Thanks for your reply @Jerry James

I wasn't aware this might not be pukka ... its advertised as a RSD release from 2020 in France and i've foundt it on Rough Trade uk site as part of the Aug 29th 2020 RSD drop...all sold out though ... so i'm really not sure about its provenance but i thought all RSD drops were legit ? or is that a myth .. i do know thy aren't all great sounding after Bill Evans at Ronnie Scott's