Ella Returns to Berlin
Ella Fitzgerald · 1991
59 min · 21 tracks · jazz · soul · swing
Ella Fitzgerald's voice soars over lush arrangements, blending jazz standards with the warmth of a live audience.
Why this album works
This album is significant not only for its rich collection of jazz standards but also for being one of Fitzgerald's final live recordings before her health declined. The album showcases her impeccable vocal technique and emotional depth, contributing to her legacy as one of jazz's most influential artists. It received positive critical reception, reinforcing her impact on the genre well into her later years.
- Best for
- warm live audience atmosphere dynamic performance with interludes playful classics for sing-alongs
- Context
- Released in 1991, 'Ella Returns to Berlin' captures Ella Fitzgerald at a time when she had already achieved legendary status in jazz. This album marked her return to the stage in Berlin, a city where she had previously performed during her early career, solidifying her enduring connection with European audiences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dave Brubeck· Miles Davis· John Coltrane· Thelonious Monk· Chet Atkins· Herbie Hancock· Charles Mingus· Aretha Franklin
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 [introductions and announcements] 1:20
- 2 Give Me the Simple Life 2:01
- 3 Take the “A” Train Standout 3:47
- 4 Slow Boat to China 2:20
- 5 Medley 5:37
- 6 [introduction] 0:11
- 7 You’re Driving Me Crazy 3:24
- 8 Rock It for Me 3:20
- 9 Witchcraft 2:54
- 10 Anything Goes 2:34
- 11 Cheek to Cheek Standout 3:36
- 12 Misty 2:57
- 13 Caravan 2:02
- 14 If You Can’t Sing It You’ll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini) 4:44
- 15 Mack the Knife Standout 3:29
- 16 Fanfare for Ella 0:22
- 17 ’Round Midnight 3:30
- 18 Joe Williams’ Blues 5:27
- 19 Fanfare for Ella 0:52
- 20 This Can’t Be Love 4:30
- 21 [closing announsements] 0:53
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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