Ella Fitzgerald The Complete 1960-61 Ella in Berlin (2-CD)

This release presents the complete original LP Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife (Verve MGV4041), as well as her comeback concert from the following year. It contains both of Ella Fitzgerald's celebrated performances at the Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany, in their entireties. She is backed by all-star quartets featuring Jim Hall or Herb Ellis on guitar, and Paul Smith or Lou Levy on piano. The 1960 concert became one of Ella's most popular albums ever, winning two Grammy awards in 1960. On both concerts she performs amazing readings of the Weill-Brecht classic ''Mack the Knife.'' A complete rarely heard performance in Cannes that was taped in July 1959, and two 1956 tracks recorded live at the Hollywood Bowl, have been added here as a bonus. The latter two songs were mistakenly included on some issues of Ella in Berlin under the false belief that they formed part of the 1960 concert. This set also includes two rare versions of tunes from the second concert sung in German, which were recorded in Copenhagen in 1961 and originally issued as singles. Includes a 16-page booklet with the original artwork, plus the original and updated liner notes.