On this four-CD set are some of
Ella Fitzgerald's finest live performances during the years she was managed by
Norman Granz. All of the material (which is taken from ten different performances in 1953, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1983) was previously released on various Pablo albums. Since this is a best-of collection and was lovingly put together by the knowledgeable producer
Eric Miller, the music is consistently rewarding and emphasizes the interpretive skills, scatting and jazz phrasing of the First Lady of Song. Although mostly backed by her trio/quartets of the period,
Ella does get to jam "Perdido" with the 1953
JATP All-Stars, is backed by the
Duke Ellington and
Count Basie Orchestras on some songs and revisits "Flying Home" with an all-star group in 1983. The most remarkable performance is 1972's "C Jam Blues" which features
Ella trading off remarkable musical jokes with
Al Grey,
Stan Getz,
Harry "Sweets" Edison,
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and
Roy Eldridge. ~ Scott Yanow