Pure Ella

This is my first Cd of Ella Fitzgerald; and it has really exceeded my expectations. It has a lot of popular songs, sung by other artists. Some of the songs, especially Mack the Knife, I didnt think I would enjoy since I have heard them so many times by other artists; but Ella's take on it is hillarious and entertaining. I read up on it after I heard it, and it is her performance live in berlin in the 60's and she forgot the words to half of the song but still managed to make it work with her own words. - She also does a dead on impression of louie armstrong in it. I love it. I also like her How High the Moon. And A Tisket A Tasket is great too ('high-ho silver!'). Even though most of the songs are live (or at least sound like it - I have read that sometimes artists would reproduce in studios their live performances), the sound quality is still excellent. This cd always puts a smile on my face.

Pure Ella is wonderfully entertaining and easy to listen to. She was not just a singer...she was a master entertainer with a supreme voice that clearly comes through on Pure Ella. This is one of our favorites and better than we expected when we bought it on a whim. I would highly recommend this for anyones music collection.

Just recently started getting into vocal jazz. I already own a few classic jazz compilations with a few of Ella's songs on them. The first time I heard her voice I was hooked! I escpecially loved her cover of Mack the Knife! im not going to spend time and try to write some pseudo-intellectual dribble. As I already stated, im fairly new to the classic/vocal jazz world so I wont waste anyones time pretending to know a lot about this genre. What I do know is Ella Fitzgewrald a musical goddess.

Although I like the sweet sound of Ella, I do not care for the "skat" singing that others may like.

If you need to tune your piano perfectly do it while listening to Ella. My father introduced me to Ms. Fitzgerald almost 60 years ago and I have not gone a week without playing at least one of her recordings. After you are helplessly in love with this woman look for her together with Louis Satchelmouth Armstrong. Sit back, close your eyes, and experience unequalled artistry.

Simply the Best. Never tire of hearing Ella sing. This album is a fine collection that includes many of my favourites. ,including a superb recording of "Over the Rainbow", "All the Things You Are" .So many others- a great cross section of tracks to go with my Ella collection.

Ella is Bella, but gets somewhat tiring after so many wonderful songs. (Maybe I was just tired after two full albums)

Love her distinctive style and lively music. I have grown up listening to Ella as my dad is a great fan of her music too...Farhad

Excellent album of time honoured favourites with the amazing voice of one of the best jazz singers ever. Love it!

Cet excellent enregistrement nous permet d'apprécier à quel point Ella Fitzgerald était tout simplement divine; sa voix chaleureuse et parfaitement juste, son sens très subtil des nuances, sa diction parfaite en font l'interprète particulièrement émouvante de ces splendides chansons enregistrées pour les unes en 1950, les autres en 1954, toujours avec l'excellent pianiste Ellis Larkin dans un superbe accompagnement. Merveilleuses chansons de tendresse et d'amour dont les textes vous saisissent et vous transportent. Rien d'étonnant que Ella Fitzgerald ait tant fasciné et tant suscité d'admiration (par exemple chez Doris Day qui rêvait de l'imiter). Un CD à avoir absolument, dans une sélection où Sarah Vaughan trouve également sa place.

Ella is amazing of course but Ellis Larkin's accompaniment was the revelation to me. Simply convincing.

Recommended for fans of Ella. With just voice and piano accompaniment, and not on live/on stage, it really shows the detail and expressiveness of her voice compared to the live high energy scatting that she is perhaps better known for.

素晴らしいアルバムです。きっと自分は、こんな物を求めてたのだと感じた。