Clap Hands

Product Description:

Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Lou Levy (piano); Herb Ellis (guitar);

Joe Mondragon (bass); Stan Levey (drums)

Recorded in Los Angeles, California on June 22-23, 1961. Includes orginal liner notes by Benny Green and and reissue liner notes by Will Friedwald.

Many of the Ella Fitzgerald CDs in print are compilations and recently discovered live recordings, which makes this reissue with bonus tracks of a 1961 album that much more interesting. Produced by Norman Granz, this is a small-combo session with occasional and unobtrusive strings. Though Fitzgerald got her start as a big-band singer, smaller and more intimate combos fit her rich, velvety voice better than big brassy arrangements.

Opening with Dizzy Gillespie's classic "Night in Tunisia," which features some outstanding scatting, CLAP HANDS, HERE COMES CHARLIE continues in that bop-oriented vein, with versions of "Stella By Starlight" and Monk's "'Round Midnight." The highest point on the album, though, is a stunning, stripped-down version of "Cry Me a River." The three bonus tracks, recorded during these sessions, are very good, but not revelatory, though the saucy "I Got a Guy" is swinging fun.