Tag: Ella Fitzgerald

Title: Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Ella And Louis Again (1957) [Analogue Productions 2012]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Ella and Louis Again is a 1957 studio album by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. It is the “sequel” to their 1956 album, Ella and Louis, in contrast to their previous collaboration Ella and Louis, this album does not only feature duets. Mono recordings. Stylistically, singer Fitzgerald and trumpeter/singer Armstrong had very different histories; he started out in Dixieland before branching out into classic jazz and swing, whereas Fitzgerald started out as a swing-oriented big-band vocalist before becoming an expert bebopper. But the two of them have no problem finding common ground on Ella and Louis Again, which is primarily a collection of vocal duets (with the backing of a solid rhythm section led by pianist Oscar Peterson). One could nit-pick about the fact that Satchmo doesn’t take more trumpet solos, but the artists have such a strong rapport as vocalists that the trumpet shortage is only a minor point.

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Title: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Autumn In New York (2008)
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

I purchased this from ebay quiet a few weeks ago so it has been well played. It opens with probably the best version of ‘Summer Time’ I have heard. Superb orchestration with Louis trumpet sets the scene and then Ella’s stunning vocals just blow you away. PLAY IT LOUD!. The sound is just fantastic. There is a bit more than usual information about the technicals – The source 32bit/ 192Khz, the mastering equipment, even the cable and preamp. So TopMusic are obviously very proud of what and how they have acheived. There are in total 16 tracks, seven of which also appear on the superb Verve mono JSACD Ella & Louis. So how do they compare? Verve wins. The voices are just that bit clearer as is the instrumentation hence the 4.5 stars. But apart from that would I have bought it had I known? Yes. It is still a superb album. A must for Ella and Louis fans. – customer review at sa-cd.net

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Title: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Ella and Louis (Analogue Productions 2011, Mono) (1956/2011)
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO

Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound from the original master tapes to vinyl and PCM. The DSD was sourced from the PCM. George listened to all of the different A/D converters he had before he chose which to use, and he felt the George Massenburg GML 20 bit A/D produced the best and most synergistic sound for the project. The very fact that America’s biggest jazz label called one of their albums quite simply Ella and Louis indicates that we are talking about something very special here. And surely enough has been said – “Satchmo” and the grande dame of jazz certainly need no further introduction. In the ’50s just the mere mention of their forenames was enough to light up the eyes of jazz fans. A glance at the track list reveals that tranquility rules the day: wild stomps and improvised scats will neither be sought nor missed. Of prime importance to the jazz ballad is a feeling of “letting oneself drift” in the inspiration which gushes forth from the minds of genial American songwriters. This is no contest – for the artists all pursue a common goal with extreme sensitiveness. The background combo, made up of first-class musicians and led by Oscar Peterson, performs with great concentration and almost obtrusive unobtrusiveness. Verve’s highly successful producer Norman Granz decided quite deliberately to make the recording in the studio instead of at a live session. And success has verified his judgment, for such vocal jazz knows only gentle tones – but the result is all the more intensive for that. Originally released in 1956.

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