Billie or Ella? Maria or Renata? Technique or feeling?

Maybe I’ve used poor terminology. to describe what I’m looking for in Ella Fitgerald recordings. I’d prefer to avoid the Gershwin or Cole Porter Great American songbook type material is all. For instance, I’ve most all of Miles Davis records through 1977, but rarely play his Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain or Quiet Nights recordings. For whatever reason, valid or not, I find that kind of material annoying and that’s what I’d like to avoid. Maybe her Duke Ellington Songbook album would be okay.

So if any of you could recommend any Ella albums like I’m poorly trying to describe, I’d appreciate your recommendations. Thanks.

Mike

skyscraper-If  you just want to hear Ella in one of her best settings  that's only with piano or simple Jazz ensemble. Check out here Decca and early Verve output for some of her finest. The songbook/orchestra settings is what most people remember her for. 

Thanks tablejockey. I'll check the Decca and early Verve material out. That sounds like what I'd be looking for.

Good recommendations by tablejockey.

It’s interesting that the distinction is being made re “song book” material as concerns both Ella and Billie. The fact is that most of the material recorded by Billie is in fact, and like Ella’s…….also part of the Great American Songbook.

Two different singers with two different styles. Jazz is, stylistically, a lot of different things depending on the particular artist. In fact, individuality of style is one of the. key ingredients of Jazz. Ella’s was not as gritty and pained as was Billie’s. Does that make her less of a Jazz singer? I don’t think so. It’s also interesting that singers seem to be accorded less stylistic latitude than instrumentalists. Was Lester Young less of a Jazz player than Coltrane? After all, he had a beautifully light and smooth tone with perfect intonation (sound familiar?). Coltrane, on the other hand, had tons of grit and angst in his playing and tended to play a little sharp.

skyscraper, you may like this one: