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| Love Letters from Ella | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 8 reviews)
Sales Rank: 71950
Category: Music
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Publisher: Concord Records
Studio: Concord Records
Manufacturer: Concord Records
Label: Concord Records
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.2
MPN: 30213
UPC: 888072302136
EAN: 0888072302136
ASIN: B000QUU2HU
Release Date: July 31, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone | | • | Cry Me a River | | • | You Turned the Tables On Me | | • | I've Got the World On a String | | • | Witchcraft | | • | My Old Flame | | • | The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else) | | • | Take Love Easy | | • | Our Love Is Here To Stay | | • | Some Other Spring |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
You knew a trend was brewing when Concord Records scored a hit by taking newly unearthed vocal tracks from the 1970s by the late Ray Charles and adding newly recorded accompaniment by the orchestra still bearing the late Count Basie's name. Here Concord repeats the formula, doctoring outtakes by the dearly departed Ella Fitzgerald with new backing by the London Philharmonic and/or a contemporary rhythm section. As with Ray Sings, Basie Swings, Love Letters from Ella has undeniable appeal. Recorded in the 1970s, the great singer is in fine, relaxed, late-season form on a collection of ballads including "My Old Flame" and "Cry Me a River" and medium tempo tunes including "Withcraft" and "Our Love is Here to Stay." (There is also a pair of unaltered, previously unreleased performances by Ella and Basie and band and a 1983 track teaming her with Andre Previn.) The new orchestrations by Jorge Calandrelli are tasteful, and the edits are clean. But if you're going to play these archival games, you owe it to listeners to spell out what was done and why in greater track-by-track detail than is done here. Exactly what old accompaniment did the new accompaniment replace? Did a duet with guitarist Joe Pass really need to be "updated" with a rhythm section? When record companies start thinking these things don't matter, jazz is in even bigger trouble than we thought. --Lloyd Sachs
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Very Satisfying April 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Well Ella is gone but with state of the art recordings such as this being produced she will never be forgotten. I must say first of all that I see nothing wrong with her original recordings. They are in a class by themselves and when I read that Concord Jazz had released a new updated CD of Ellas work I was a bit upset. BUT after purchasing this CD and listening to the love and attention given to Lady Ella, it is rather fitting and just. The more I listen to it the more I love it. First of all the SOUND will grab you, it surrounds you and her voice it right out front and lucious (did I spell that right?).
So many favorites, Cry Me A River is probably the best version of this song I have ever heard and the London Symphony Orchestra blending with that topaz voice is almost enough to make you cry. I love it.
My Ol Flame, simply delicious. The old Joe Pass version is still great in itself but the orchestra backing really makes her vocal have more depth. This is one of my favorities on this CD.
BUT don't despair you fans who love the jumpin Ella, they didn't forget you either. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone is a realy pleaser. Another cut previously not released with Count Basie and his Orchestra, Some Other Spring which is timeless and almost worth the price of the CD alone.
There are so many more,You Turned The Tables On Me, Witchcraft, and the great Gershwin classic, Our Love Is Here To Stay.
I hope you can tell I really like this CD. No I love it. I hope Concord releases more. Well worth the price. How can you put a price on relaxing and kicking back and listening to a little new Ella. I can't sure beats the price of filling the tank with gas and driving somewhere else. AND the sound, did I mention it is GREAT.
Love Letters Straight From Ella's Heart March 29, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
"Just don't give up on trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong." ~ Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) ~
What a wonderful quote from the First Lady of Song. It's also one of my philosophies in life that I have truly believed in and have applied in my own life. As each one of us has a soundtrack in life, I would say that this CD, "Love Letters From Ella" is her personal soundtrack. This is the story of her love life as reflected in this set of ten never-before-heard-performances that are all meaningful and flawlessly interpreted. These are Ella's "love letters" conveyed in these nostalgic songs, which were all recorded during the later part of her bright and prolific musical career, nevertheless, her voice still sounds great.
Listen to her heartfelt renditions backed by the finest musicians who seasoned Ella's vocals with delightful flavors and creative presentations under the brilliant orchestrations and arrangements of Jorge Calandrelli for most of the tracks and Benny Carter for the first and last tracks. The beauty of this recording is also magnified by the support of London Symphony Orchestra and Count Basie and his Orchestra as well.
You can't go wrong with this CD for it is not only a showcase of Ella's very impressive vocal art but also a powerhouse of notable line-up of musicians who made it to the list of "Who's Who in Jazz" - to name a few, Count Basie, Joe Pass, Andre Previn, Scott Hamiton, Benny Carter, and not to mention Gregg Field and Jorge Calandrelli who also produced this CD worthy to any Ella fan since it was just recently released to coincide with the First Lady of Song's 90th birth anniversary this year.
If I could whisper in your ear a piece of musical advice . . . I would say buy this CD without hesitation and delight in ten beautiful interpretations of timeless songs most especially "Our Love Is Here To Stay," "I've Got The World On A String," "Cry Me A River," "Witchcraft" and "Some Other Spring."
"Music is born of emotion." ~ Confucius ~
 Love Ella! Don't Care for This January 11, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Not a fan of the big string orchestral backround. This one gets sold to the highest bidder.
From the producer... January 4, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Wanted to correct the assertions by Mr. Cornell and Mr. Coppin.
Mr. Cornell's assertion that Ella's label Pablo didn't originally released these Ella tracks because she would not have wanted it that way is simply incorrect. Original producer, Norman Granz would usually record many more tracks than could be released on an LP and the intention was usually to include the unreleased tracks in subsequent releases. I recorded a number of records for Norman Granz and rarely was the case the music was unreleasable.
As to Mr. Coppin's assertion that Ella's vocals were effected by a stroke. Ella never had a stroke. She had a heart attack in 1986 while I was working with her (hopefully it wasn't something I played). The vocals on this CD were recorded on average 10 years before that. A period where virtually every record she released received a Grammy nomination or award.
I'm proud to say that "Cry Me A River" from "Love Letters From Ella" has been nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award and this CD is the highest Billboard Chart debut in Ella's entire career! I KNOW she would have loved this CD!
Gregg Field
Producer- Love Letters From Ella
Simply Fabulous December 6, 2007
There really aren't words to describe Ella. Simply F A B U L O U S ! ! !
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