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ella-juanlespins.jpg (15998 bytes)

By Charleston Hepston
 
Ella Fitzgerald – Detour Ahead
2002 The Verve Music Group (recorded in 1964)
SQ Issue:  Spring 2006, Volume 16, Issue 2

The Band:  Ella Fitzgerald – vocals; Roy Eldridge – trumpet; Tommy Flanagan – piano; Bill Yancey – bass; Gus Johnson - drums

 “Ella Fitzgerald had a lifelong love affair with her audience, and her in-concert albums are among her most memorable recordings.  ‘Ella at Juan-les-Pins’ taped over two nights at a jazz festival on the French Riviera in 1964, has long been considered one of the best of the bunch.”   --- liner notes.

There really isn’t much more to add about this album that isn’t already said in the liner notes.  Hey, it’s Ella!  If you look for perfection in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Ella.  She’s the first and still the best of the singing divas to be known simply by her first name.  There is no mistaking who you are talking about when you say Ella.

And there is no mistaking dropping some coin on this CD.  It’s two discs packed with some of the best work from Ella Fitzgerald.  Some great scatting, great phrasing, swingin’ energy and just about any other adjective you can find.   It is classic Ella with her small groups.

Whether it’s jazz classics like I Love Being Here with You, Hello Dolly and Goody Goody or more modern songs like the Beatles’ Can’t Buy Me Love (is that still considered modern?) Ella stamps her unique style on it and creates a version of the song that immediately is one of the best versions you’ll ever find.

There’s plenty of dancing to be had from this CD and dancers will find great tempos across the board.  Listeners will be just as pleased.  I was told about this CD by a fellow DJ about 3 years ago.  I’m sorry it took me this long to finally pick it up.  It’s a great buy with numerous high quality songs by THE JAZZ VOICE.

If there is a down side to this CD it’s that there is duplication.   As indicated in the liner notes, this CD was recorded over two shows.  That means you’ll get almost the same song more than once in several circumstances.  Yes, they are live, so they are unique in their own right but it would have been nice to see less duplication.

Bottom Line:  To buy or not to buy….. BUY, DUH!  Here’s how: