Jazz
Recorded August 27-31, 1956 at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles
Ella Fitzgerald Vocal
Buddy Bregman Conductor, Arranger
When songs from the musical theater are taken outside the theater, each performer can choose whether to imitate the original version or to evolve a more personal one. To this day, Rodgers refuses to identify the definitive interpretations of his songs; he simply hopes that singers of those songs, no matter what their idiosyncrasies, will project "intimacy, naturalness and realism." This standard is met by performers as dissimilar as Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald...Ella, the consummate jazz artist, whose velvety voice projects grace, detachment, subtlety, sang with jazz bands but did little acting, and thus brought a new vision and flavor to classic "show tunes." Ella's interpretation is understated and free-flowing; it leaves the listener with the feeling that there is little more to say.
---Deena Rosenberg, from the liner notes to The Rodgers and Hart Songbook, Volume 1
Produced by Norman Granz. |
