ELLA SWINGS BRIGHTLY WITH NELSON is the obvious companion piece to ELLA SWINGS GENTLY WITH NELSON, and the two albums are often repackaged together. Recorded in 1961, when Nelson Riddle was possibly the most popular bandleader in America (thanks to his classic string of albums with Frank Sinatra) and Ella Fitzgerald was widely considered the best female jazz singer in the world, this album shows the pair working at their respective peaks. Riddle had an undeniable gift for arrangements, and the perky charts here fit Fitzgerald's bubbly delivery and giddy scat solos like the two had worked together for decades. A saucy "Love Me Or Leave Me" and a flirty"I Won't Dance" are joys, but the deliriously lovely "I Only Have Eyes For You" is an absolute must-own classic. Even the silly answer song "The Gentleman Is A Dope" shines in such company.
Nelson Riddle, whose arrangements were an asset on some of Ella Fitzgerald's Song Book projects, also made two albums with her during 1961: this one plus Ella Swings Gently with Nelson. The singer has rarely sounded better than during this period. For the Swings Brightly set (which gets a slight edge over the other one), Fitzgerald sticks mostly to familiar standards and is particularly memorable on "Don't Be That Way," "What Am I Here For," "I'm Gonna Go Fishin'," and "I Won't Dance." Three slightly earlier bonus tracks round out this enjoyable big-band effort.
---Scott Yanow, Courtesy All Music
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ELLA FITZGERALD, vocals
Orchestra conducted & arranged by NELSON RIDDLE. Featuring Ronnie Lang (as)
Los Angeles, Nov-Dec, 1961.
[13 to 19] from the same session but not included on the original LLP
[20-21] Bonus Tracks
Ella Fitzgerald (vcl), with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra including
Don Fagerquist (tp), Bob Cooper (ts) & Alvin Stoller (d).
Los Angeles, January 5, 7 & 8, 1959. |
