A nice, left turn to the land of Ella Fitzgerald, with a stay through Roberta Flack.

Ella Fitzgerald

• Jazz at the Philharmonic: The Ella Fitzgerald Set – Lovely, swinging, classic, with a cast of characters that is second to none.  Buddy Rich, Ray Brown, Hank Jones, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Roy Eldridge…amazing.
• Sings the Gerswhin Songbook; Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook – These two records are perfection.  The writing, playing, and the singing, are magic.  She sounds incredible on every single song, and each arrangement brings the lyric to life in a way that Broadway could never capture.  For me, there are no moments more divine in Ella’s career more spectacular than the Songbooks.  Each one is an absolute must own.  Period.
• At Duke’s Place – A mid-1960s collaboration that finds everyone in excellent form.  Duke sounds amazing; the John Lamb/Louis Bellson dynamic duo swing incredibly; the band is tight, and the soloists are incredible.  Oh, and Ella is fantastic!
• A Classy Pair: Ella Fitzgerald Sings and Count Basie Plays – Arranged by Benny Carter, with John Clayton on bass, Freddie Green on guitar, and Butch Miles on drums.  To the extent that At Duke’s Place is sophisticated and elegant, A Classy Pair is unapologetically swinging.  Recorded in 1979, it’s a bit late in their careers, but man, they sound great.

Roberta Flack

• First Take – I made it pretty far through life without knowing about this record.  In fact, I was about to turn 27 when I first heard it.  My then girlfriend (my wife) told me it was one of her favorite records, and I was flabbergasted by the beauty of the music.  She has such hip taste!  This is a must-own, and essential listen.
• Blue Lights in the Basement – A much more commercial record, but still really great.  Donny Hathaway is on this record (wrote one tune on First Take), which, of course, is way cool.

So, that’s it for Ella and Roberta – on to Aretha!

Rick