In 1963 RCA Victor reassembled the 1950's Broadway cast under the direction of Skitch Henderson.They recorded the "highlights" of the show and most of he good stuff is there.The cast was Leontyne Price,William Warfield,John W. Bubbles and McHenry Boatwright.The cd is still on the market and the original lp was in print for decades and is still one amazing sounding recording.Even though this was a decade after the success of the stage run the majesty of these voices were not diminished and in fact had grown richer.Price,of course was beyond criticism and Warfield made this role magical.This original production was an important one, people flocked to see an all African-American cast on Broadway and this was a significant step forward in bending racial tolerance.
If you have heard the other versions you owe it to yourself to seek this one out.Ella and Louis,that is pretty special and the orchestral arrangement by Gil Evans for Miles Davis,well,if you have not heard that...shame on you.
If you have heard the other versions you owe it to yourself to seek this one out.Ella and Louis,that is pretty special and the orchestral arrangement by Gil Evans for Miles Davis,well,if you have not heard that...shame on you.