Ella Ray

GRP on this two-CD set reissues 42 of the 69 recordings that Ella Fitzgerald cut during a two-and-one-half-year period. Not as valuable as the European Classics "complete" series, this set does give one a good introduction to the classic singer's music during a time when she led Chick Webb's Orchestra after the drummer's death. Highlights include "Undecided," "Don't Worry About Me," "Stairway to the Stars," "Taking a Chance on Love," "The One I Love" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man"; the medium-tempo novelties are less significant.

La « Première Dame » du jazz nous est présentée ici sous toutes ses coutures. Et le plus étonnant, c’est qu’elle se révèle aussi à l’aise en compagnie de Dizzy Gillespie, chez qui elle découvre en 1947 les secrets du « bebop » (plages 20 à 22), qu’auprès de Louis Armstrong, avec lequel elle manifeste une radieuse complicité (plages 1, 2, 3, 9 et 10), ou encore en duo avec Louis Jordan, pionnier du « rock and roll » et savoureux swingman populaire (plage 12). Rien ne semble, en effet, déstabiliser Ella, qu’on entend tour à tour soutenue par de grosses machines (les big bands de Sy Oliver ou de Gillespie) ou par le trio emmené par son mari d’alors, le grand Ray Brown, contrebassiste inébranlable, trio dans lequel l’immense Hank Jones exerce ses talents de pianiste-accompagnateur stimulant et discret (les plages 13 à 19, constituant quelques-uns de ses premiers enregistrements publics, formule qu’elle reprendra souvent et avec grand succès).

Ella Fitzgerald's final recording is a bit sad. At the age of 71, she no longer had much range or power and she could only hint at her former greatness. Her sidemen (who include such veterans as trumpeters Harry "Sweets" Edison and Clark Terry, trombonist Al Grey, pianists Kenny Barron and Mike Wofford, bassist Ray Brown, drummer Bobby Durham, and the apparently ageless altoist Benny Carter) do their best but this noble effort is more important historically than musically.

Taken from a Jazz at the Philharmonic tour, Ella Fitzgerald is backed by pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Jo Jones on two well-rounded sets. Actually, the two dates are quite similar, with eight of the nine songs being repeated (although the second "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "Oh, Lady Be Good" find her backed by a riffing eight-horn all-star group), so this album is mostly recommended to her greatest fans. However, the music is wonderful, there are variations between the different versions, and her voice was at its prime.

Arriving in New York in 1945, on his first day in town Ray Brown met and played with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Bud Powell. He was hired by Gillespie for his small groups and his big band; "One Bass Hit" and "Two Bass Hit" were early features, and he can be seen with Dizzy Gillespie in the 1947 film Jiving in Bebop. Although not a soloist on the level of an Oscar Pettiford, Brown's quick reflexes and ability to accompany soloists in a swinging fashion put him near the top of his field. After playing with Jazz at the Philharmonic, he married Ella Fitzgerald (their marriage only lasted during 1948-1952), and for a time led his own trio to back the singer.,.

Avid Jazz continues with its Four Classic album series with a re-mastered 2CD release by Ray Bryant, complete with original artwork and liner notes. “Ray Bryant Trio 1956”; “Alone With The Blues”; “Little Susie” and “Hollywood Jazz Beat”.
Born on Christmas Eve in Philadelphia, 1961, Ray Bryant began picking out tunes on the piano at the tender age of six. His mother, an accomplished pianist gave him his first lessons before he moved on to other teachers and finally joined the local musicians union at fourteen! He quickly became the house pianist at the Blue Note club in Philadelphia where he says he made more money than his piano teachers! Finally he headed out on tour with his trio supporting vocalist Carmen McCrea and in 1958 joined the Jo Jones Trio…