Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook.html



Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook
Studio album by Ella Fitzgerald
Released	1957
Recorded	June 25 - October 17, 1957
Genre	Jazz
Length	166:32
Label	Verve Records
Producer	Norman Granz
Professional reviews
Allmusic link
Ella Fitzgerald chronology
Ella and Louis Again (1957) Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook (1957) Ella at the Opera House (1957)

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook is a 1957 album (see 1957 in music) by Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by the Duke Ellington orchestra, focusing on Ellington's songs.

It is significant among Fitzgerald's Songbooks in that it is the only one where the composer is also featured playing. This was the first time that Ella Fitzgerald had recorded with Duke Ellington. It is also the entry in the Songbook series that gives her by far most often the opportunity to exhibit her famous scat singing.

The greater part of disc three is devoted to two original compositions by Ellington, inspired by Fitzgerald's life, character and artistry.

Fitzgerald's performance on this album won her the 1959 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance, Individual.

This album marked the start of a fruitful artistic relationship for Ella and the 'Duke', the 1960s would see them perform on the Côte d'Azur for the 1966 album Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur, and in Sweden for The Stockholm Concert, 1966. Their only other studio album, 1965's Ella at Duke's Place is also extremely well received.

The baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau even reportedly cut short a New York recital so he could catch Ella and the Duke in concert.

Track listing

For the 2000 Verve CD Reissue 830533-2

Disc One

1. "Rockin' in Rhythm" (Harry Carney, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills) – 5:17
2. "Drop Me Off in Harlem" (Nick Kenny) – 3:48
3. "Day Dream" (John La Touche, Billy Strayhorn) – 3:56
4. "Caravan" (Mills, Juan Tizol) – 3:51
5. "Take the "A" Train" (Strayhorn) – 6:37
6. "I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues" (Don George) – 4:39
7. "Clementine" (Strayhorn) – 2:37
8. "I Didn't Know About You" (Bob Russell) – 4:10
9. "I'm Beginning to See the Light" (George, Johnny Hodges, Harry James) – 3:24
10. "Lost in Meditation" (Mills, Lou Singer, Tizol) – 3:24
11. "Perdido" (Ervin Drake, H.J Lengsfelder, Tizol) – 6:10
12. "Cotton Tail" – 3:23
13. "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me" (Russell) – 7:38
14. "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" (Lee Gaines, Strayhorn) – 3:30
15. "(In My) Solitude" (Eddie DeLange) – 2:04
16. "Rocks in My Bed" – 3:56
17. "Satin Doll" (Johnny Mercer, Strayhorn) – 3:26
18. "Sophisticated Lady" (Mitchell Parish) – 5:18

Disc Two

1. "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)" (Gaines) – 4:13
2. "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (Mills) – 4:12
3. "Azure" (Mills) – 2:18
4. "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" (Mills, Henry Nemo, John Redmond) – 4:08
5. "In a Sentimental Mood" (Manny Kurtz, Mills) – 2:44
6. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (Russell) – 4:59
7. "Prelude to a Kiss" (Mack Gordon, Mills) – 5:26
8. "Mood Indigo" (Barney Bigard, Mills) – 3:24
9. "In a Mellow Tone" (Milt Gabler) – 5:07
10. "Love You Madly" – 4:37
11. "Lush Life" (Strayhorn) – 3:37
12. "Squatty Roo" (Hodges) – 3:38
13. "I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So" (Mack David) – 4:12
14. "All Too Soon" (Carl Sigman) – 4:22
15. "Everything But You" (George, James) – 2:53
16. "I Got it Bad (And That Ain't Good)" (Paul Francis Webster) – 6:11
17. "Bli-Blip" (Sid Kuller) – 3:01

Disc Three

1. "Chelsea Bridge" (Strayhorn) – 3:20
2. "Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald" (Strayhorn) – 16:10:
   • First Movement: "Royal Ancestry"
   • Second Movement: "All Heart"
   • Third Movement: "Beyond Category"
   • Fourth Movement: "Total Jazz"
3. "The E and D Blues" (E for Ella, D for Duke) (Strayhorn) – 4:48

All music written by Duke Ellington, lyricists indicated.

Recorded June 15–October 27, 1957, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Personnel

• Ella Fitzgerald — vocals
• William "Cat" Anderson — trumpet
• Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet
• Clark Terry - trumpet
• Willie Cook - trumpet
• Frank Foster — tenor saxophone
• Paul Gonsalves - saxophone
• Ben Webster - saxophone
• Johnny Hodges — alto saxophone
• Russell Procope — clarinet, alto saxophone
• Jimmy Hamilton — clarinet, tenor saxophone
• Harry Carney — clarinet, bass clarinet
• John Sanders — trombone
• Britt Woodman - trombone
• Quentin Jackson - trombone
• Ray Nance — trumpet, violin
• Stuff Smith — violin
• Oscar Peterson — piano
• Paul Smith - piano
• Ray Brown — double bass
• Joe Mondragon - bass
• Jimmy Woode - bass
• Herb Ellis — guitar
• Barney Kessel - guitar
• Sam Woodyard — drums
• Alvin Stoller - drums
• Billy Strayhorn — piano, narrator
• Duke Ellington — piano, narrator, arranger, conductor.