Ella Fitzgerald's Berlin concert of February 13, 1960, highlighted by her ad-lib version of "Mack the Knife," is considered a classic. The performance here dates from the following year and is almost as rewarding. Accompanied by pianist
Lou Levy, guitarist
Herb Ellis, bassist
Wilfred Middlebrooks, and drummer
Gus Johnson, she sings 18 songs in a varied and well-paced set. Highlights include "Take the 'A' Train," "Anything Goes," "You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)," "'Round Midnight," a new (but less humorous) version of "Mack the Knife," and an encore, "This Can't Be Love," that has the singer joined by
the Oscar Peterson Trio. ~ Scott Yanow