Product Description:
Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Barney Kessel (guitar); Martin Ruderman (flute); Ben Webster (tenor saxophone); Harry "Sweets" Edison, Pete Candoli (trumpet); George Roberts (trombone); Arnold Ross (piano); Joe Mondragon (bass instrument); Alvin Stoller (drums); Milt Holland (percussion).
Recording information: Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, California (1957); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California (1959).
Arranger: Frank De Vol.
Of the dozens of Ella Fitzgerald albums on the market, HELLO LOVE may be the most romantic. Recorded in the late 1950s, these 12 tracks highlight Fitzgerald's ability to render passionate and tender performances of love songs.
Yet Fitzgerald may have more in common with a horn player than a vocalist. Unlike many song stylists, she wasn't merely a pretty voice; she employed a lot of jazzy nuance and timbral variety in her singing. On this album, you might hear her drag behind the beat on a phrase or slide up to a note slowly. She also might spice up a particularly important word with a jazzy turn. Listeners will hear these subtle vocal qualities best on "You Go to My Head." On this ballad, Frank DeVol's arrangement supports Fitzgerald with long, lush string chords and sparkling harp glissandos. Further, the soaring flute and French horn add even more zest to this arrangement, as does the short but beautiful alto saxophone solo. Overall, this collection of standards spotlights the true elegance of Fitzgerald's singing.
