On Saturday (1.18) Verve Records announced The Moment of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum, a new and never-before-released live concert album from the First Lady Of Song, Ella Fitzgerald.
Scheduled for a February 28th release on all formats, the recordings were mixed and mastered in stunning clarity from the original analog multitrack tapes, resulting in pristine high-fidelity audio typically unheard of for a live concert recording of that era.
Originally recorded at the Oakland Coliseum on June 30 of 1967, The Moment Of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum recently discovered in the private tape collection of Verve Records founder Norman Granz. The full length includes nine tracks, most of which have never been heard before, and features Fitzgerald accompanied by members of The Duke Ellington Orchestra at its prime. The soon-to-be-releases recordings highlight Ella’s reputation as a renowned live performer (“utter perfection, personified” wrote The New York Times).
During the summer of 1967, Fitzgerald was in the midst of an especially successful three-year tour run and recording collaboration with Duke Ellington, incorporating hit pop songs of the late-60s into her concert repertoire, two of which are presented for the very first time on The Moment including “Alfie” and “Music To Watch Girls By.” Encouraged by members of The Duke Ellington Orchestra on stage with her, Fitzgerald is both playful and powerful as she tells jokes to the audience before stunning them with her unrivaled voice.
Fitzgerald’s band includes the rarely-heard trio of Jimmy Jones, Bob Cranshaw, and Sam Woodyard, while the Ellington band captured here at its peak, featured Cat Anderson, Cootie Williams, Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges and Russell Procope. The First Lady Of Song meets The Duke’s Men — and it’s something to behold.
The title track “The Moment of Truth” is now available.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH: ELLA AT THE COLISEUM
1. The Moment Of Truth – 2:52
2. Don’t Be That Way – 4:33
3. You’ve Changed – 4:37
4. Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love) – 4:43
5. Bye Bye Blackbird – 5:02
6. Alfie – 5:43
7. In A Mellow Tone – 4:41
8. Music To Watch Girls By – 3:56
9. Mack The Knife – 4:53
Recorded at The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA on June 30, 1967.
Ella Fitzgerald – vocals
The trio:
Jimmy Jones – piano
Bob Cranshaw – bass
Sam Woodyard – drums
Members of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra:
Trumpets: Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams
Trombones: Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors, Buster Cooper
Reeds: Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: IISG