Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song book is a 1957 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by the Duke Ellington orchestra, focusing on Ellington's songs.
Part of Fitzgerald's series of 'Songbooks', it is the only one where the composer is also featured as a performer. This was the first time that Fitzgerald had recorded with Ellington. It is also the entry in the Songbook series that gives her by far most often the opportunity to exhibit her famous scat singing.
The greater part of disc three is devoted to two original compositions by Ellington, inspired by Fitzgerald's life, character and artistry.
Fitzgerald's performance on this album won her the 1959 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance, Individual.
This album marked the start of a fruitful artistic relationship for Ella and the 'Duke', the 1960s would see them perform on the Côte d'Azur for the 1966 album Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur, and in Sweden for The Stockholm Concert, 1966. Their only other studio album, 1965's Ella at Duke's Place, was also extremely well received.
Read more about Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Duke Ellington Song Book: Track Listing, Personnel
Famous quotes containing the words fitzgerald, sings, duke, song and/or book:
“Of all natural forces, vitality is the incommunicable one.... Vitality never “takes.” You have it or you haven’t it, like health or brown eyes or a baritone voice.”
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)
“She sings as the moon sings:
“I am I, am I;
The greater grows my lift
The further that I fly.”
All creation shivers
With that sweet cry.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“We have in the service the scum of the earth as common soldiers.”
—Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke Wellington (1769–1852)
“Thy name is an ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.”
—Bible: Hebrew The Song of Solomon 1:3.
“Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts--the book of their deeds, the book of their words, and the book of their art.”
—John Ruskin (1819–1900)