The voice settles down, she holds her audience by the hand, softly, surely. Ella settles on stage as if she were in her living room. She welcomes each spectator like a privileged guest. Each piece is a glass of champagne that she offers with grace. Sometimes melancholic, sometimes joking, most of the time laughing, dynamic and catchy. "Hilariously inventive Ella!" As Bing Crosby used to say: "Man, woman or child, Ella is the greatest of them all."

 

Recorded at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Nov. 18, 1961

 

Musicians:

Ella Fitzgerald, vocals

Lou Levy, piano

Herb Ellis, guitar

Wilfred Middlebrooks, bass

Gus Johnson, drums

 

Record 1

Introduction by Norman Granz

Won't you please let me in

Too close for comfort

On a slow boat to china

How long has this been going on ?

Heart and soul

You're driving me crazy

That old black magic

Lower come back to me

 

Record 2

My funny valentine

I've got a crush on you

Lorelei

Mr. Paganini

Mack the knife

Saint louis blues