Ella Fitzgerald - The Moment Of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum

No one does it quite like Ella. Her astronomical reputation in the world of jazz hardly needs explanation; her moniker, The First Lady of Song, does an apt job of conveying the breadth of her mastery and skill. When considering classic jazz albums, it’s no surprise that pretty much the entirety of Ella’s catalogue would make the cut. But with the recent release of The Moment Of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum, Ella’s latest addition to her exceptional discography seems like the perfect choice for this week.

Despite being released just over two weeks ago, this album is surely considered a classic already, partly due to its containing two previously unrecorded songs. And, as with everything Ella Fitzgerald applies her voice to, any recorded performance by her inevitably becomes a permanent fixture in any jazz fan’s collection. This album is no different; it’s likely been added to many classic album shelves already. 

Ella’s journey to stardom stemmed from a happy childhood that was altered irrevocably by the death of her mother, who had sustained serious injuries during a car accident. Singing in the street to get by, it wasn’t until two years later that she participated in a competition intending to dance. However, one look at her fellow competitors had her in a last-minute panic, so she opted to sing instead. From here, she rose to fame by singing with Chick Webb’s Orchestra and gained the attention of Norman Granz, manager and future founder of Verve Records. This very recording comes from the private collection of Granz himself when he taped the concert back in 1967, and its discovery means we can delight in listening to it today. 

The recording has Ella singing alongside the full Duke Ellington Orchestra and Jimmy Jones on piano in the Duke’s stead. Sam Woodward’s drums open the album to signal Ella’s entrance and she sets straight into 'The Moment of Truth’. The moment she sings the first note we're reminded once again of the relaxing freedom that comes with listening to her sing. You’re never worried that she won’t quite pull it off, each performance is as consistent as the last. Harkening back to her days with Chick Webb, ‘Don’t Be That Way’ sees her impeccable intonation in full force as she undertakes vocal variations on the melody and absolutely soars, much to the delight of the audience. 

This album includes two previously unrecorded tracks, both popular tunes of the 1960s. The first of these is Burt Bacharach’s famous tune ‘Alfie’. From the offset every phrase is brimming with intimacy and emotion, her sound sublime. The technicality of the melody seems effortless and is executed without a hitch, all whilst listeners (both those in the present and those in the past) hang on her every word. The second previously unreleased track is Bob Crewe’s ‘Music To Watch Girls By’ which sees a smooth yet groovy arrangement segueing into ‘Happy Talk’ from the musical South Pacific and back again. The album closes with the famous ‘Mack The Knife’ (full of invented lyrics, in true Ella fashion), that bops and bounces with the hard-swinging band, all to meet a thundering and riotous applause from the audience at the end. 

This is an exemplary album, adding further evidence to the widely accepted belief that she remains to this day the Queen of Jazz. Full of incredibly sincere vocals, a stellar band behind her, and humorous and playful exchanges with the audience (her jokes about setting up ‘sexy lights’ before a ballad, refusing a strip tease, and reprimanding audience members because they arrived late are delightful extras) all combine to make this album a captivating listen from start to finish. Once again, this recording proves beyond any doubt that with Ella, every note is the right one. 

Now available on Verve Records: The Moment Of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum as well as other classic Ella albums: