Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George And Ira Gershwin Song Book (Remastered) (2017) [Hi-Res]

Capturing Ella at the peak of her artistic powers, this 4x album collection offers up some of the most definitive Gershwin interpretations ever recorded. Featuring superb arrangements by Nelson Riddle, songs here include "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "My One And Only," "Oh, Lady, Be Good," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "'S Wonderful" and "Someone to Watch Over Me".

The success of Ella Fitzgerald sings The George and Ira Gershwin Song book if measured in chart terms is at best average, spending just 5 weeks on the best seller list, but that is looking at this monumental recording from the wrong perspective. Ella takes songs that are much loved, and much played and makes them sound fresh and alive, new even. It did, however, win a Grammy for the Best Vocal Performance, Female at the 1960 ceremony. And let’s not forget, this was a five album set, one that has subsequently become a 4x album set, with alternate takes and other rarities. Immerse yourself in some of the greatest singing by any singer, anytime, anywhere…

Ella Fitzgerald was forty-one when she recorded this album, and at the peak of her vocal powers, demonstrated in the earlier Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book, and her two greatest live albums from this period, Ella in Berlin (1960) and Ella in Rome (1958). Like the other songbooks devoted to the Broadway composers, Fitzgerald gets only a single outlet for her notable scat singing, on "I Got Rhythm".

Fitzgerald's recording of "But Not for Me" won her the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance, Female.

„During the late '50s, Ella Fitzgerald continued her Song Book records with Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book, releasing a series of albums featuring 59 songs written by George and Ira Gershwin. Those songs, plus alternate takes, were combined on a four-disc box set, Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book, in 1998. These performances are easily among Fitzgerald's very best, and for any serious fan, this is the ideal place to acquire the recordings, since the sound and presentation are equally classy and impressive.“ (Leo Stanley, AMG)

Ella Fitzgerald, vocals
Nelson Riddle, arranger, conductor
Don Fagerquist, trumpet
Pete Candoli, trumpet
Joe Triscari, trumpet
Conrad Gozzo, trumpet
Cappy Lewis, trumpet
Vito Mangano, trumpet
Mannie Klein, trumpet
Dale McMickle, trumpet
Shorty Sherock, trumpet
Milt Bernhart, trombone
James Priddy, trombone
Juan Tizol, trombone
Richard Noel, trombone
Tommy Pederson, trombone
Karl DeKarske, bass trombone
George Roberts, bass trombone
Vincent DeRosa, French horns
James Decker, French horns
Ed Gilbert, tuba
Red Callender, tuba
Ted Nash, alto saxophone
Benny Carter, alto saxophone
Ronnie Lang, alto saxophone
Plas Johnson, tenor saxophone
Chuck Gentry, bass saxophone
Paul Smith, piano
Lou Levy, piano
Herb Ellis, guitar
Barney Kessel, guitar
Joe Comfort, double bass
Ralph Pena, double bass
Alvin Stoller, drums
Mel Lewis, drums
Bill Richmond, drums
Frank Flynn, percussion
Larry Bunker, percussion

Recorded in 1959 at Capitol Studios, Hollywood on January 5-8, March 18 and 26, and July 15-17
Produced by Norman Granz

Digitally remastered