Jazz
Recorded live at Carnegie Hall, New York, New York on July 5, 1973
Ella Fitzgerald (vocals)
Ellis Larkins (piano)
The Chick Webb Orchestra
Eddie Barefiled (bandleader, saxophone); Chauncy Horton, Pete Clarke, Arthur Clarke, Bob Ashton, Hayward Henry (saxophone); Taft Jordan, Dick Vance, Francis "Franc" Williams, Frank Lo Pinto (trumpet); George Matthews, Al Cobb, Garnett Brown, Jack Jeffers (trombone); Cliff Smalls (piano); Lawrence Lucie (guitar); Beverly Peer (bass)
The Tommy Flanagan Quintet
Tommy Flanagan (piano); Joe Pass (guitar); Keeter Betts (bass); Fredie Waits (drums)
Jazz At Carnegie All-Stars
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor saxophone); Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Al Grey (trombone); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Joe Pass (guitar); Keeter Betts (bass); Freddie Waits (drums)
Compilation producer: Nedra Olds-Neal.
Includes liner notes by Chris Albertson.
This is part of the Columbia Jazz Masterpieces series.
The somewhat confusing title of this two-disc live set comes from the fact that although this July 5, 1973, concert took place at New York City's Carnegie Hall, it was sponsored by the Connecticut-based Newport Jazz Festival. This expanded version of what had been a heavily-condensed two-album set on vinyl contains the complete concert, which featured Ella Fitzgerald with a variety of backers, including a version of the Chick Webb Orchestra, the horn-heavy Jazz At Carnegie All-Stars, and most satisfyingly, the Tommy Flanagan Quintet (featuring sterling guitarist Joe Pass). She sounds terrific with all three bands. The eight previously unreleased tracks, including a dazzling scat rendition of "Stompin' at the Savoy," are as magnificent as the more familiar material. This is one of the finest of the many live Fitzgerald sets.
This two-CD set (a reissue of an earlier two-Lp set plus six previously unreleased numbers) brings back a memorable Carnegie Hall concert that both features and pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. The great singer is joined on a few numbers by a Chick Webb reunion band that has a few of the original members (plus an uncredited Panama Francis on drums). Although the musicians do not get much solo space (why wasn't trumpeter Taft Jordan featured?), the music is pleasing. Ella performs three exquisite duets with pianist Ellis Larkins and then sits out while the Jazz At The Philharmonic All-Stars romp on a few jams and a ballad medley. Trumpeter Roy Eldridge's emotional flights take honors although tenorman Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and trombonist Al Grey are also in good form. Ella comes out for the second half of the show and sings 14 numbers with guitarist Joe Pass (including a pair of tender duets) and the Tommy Flanagan trio. Although her renditions of "I've Gotta Be Me" and "What's Going On" are unnecessary, Ella sounds beautiful on "Good Morning Heartache," "Don't Worry About Me" and "These Foolish Things" and swings hard on the scat-filled "Lemon Drop." An excellent retrospective of Ella Fitzgerald's first 40 years in jazz.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
