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At Newport

At Newport

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Review

Ella Fitzgerald & Billie Holiday at Newport presents the naturally intriguing results when Verve paired two sets recorded two days apart (over the 4th of July weekend, 1957) by the two best female singers of the 20th century. Unfortunately, circumstances weren't in their favor, as the combined factors of an unsympathetic band (for Fitzgerald) and shaky health (for Holiday) make these sets just a step below the expected level of greatness. It's unclear how much time Fitzgerald had spent with her trio, though she makes her unhappiness known while trying to jump-start them to a quicker tempo on "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" and "April in Paris." Finally, she gets the band in line, delivering crowd-pleasing renditions of "Lullaby of Birdland" and the terrific scat piece "Air Mail Special," which must have set the park on fire. Holiday, though she would live for two more years, sounds as though she's on death's doorstep, croaking her standards "Willow Weep for Me," "My Man," "Lady Sings the Blues," and "What a Little Moonlight Can Do." Of course, any Billie Holiday appearance is worth hearing, and she brings her world-weary voice to task on the showpiece "Lady Sings the Blues." Though it's far from a perfect set for both singers, At Newport says more about their respective careers than any great show could. [For a special 2000 reissue of Ella Fitzgerald & Billie Holiday at Newport, Verve added six songs from Carmen McRae's set at Newport. As with Fitzgerald and Holiday, McRae also had problems with her set -- the absence of her usual backing trio forced her to begin her performance with an unfamiliar band. Still, it's an excellent, powerful showcase for McRae's voice on highlights like "I'll Remember April" and "Love Is Here to Stay." Also, a 50th anniversary edition of the show appeared in 2007, with a very similar tracklisting (except it actually featured one less track.] ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Track Listing

1. This Can't Be Love 1:44
2. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 4:27
3. Body and Soul 4:28
4. Too Close for Comfort 2:30
5. Lullaby of Birdland 2:23
6. I've Got a Crush on You 2:26
7. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter) 2:26
8. April in Paris 4:02
9. Air Mail Special 4:34
10. I Can't Give You Anything But Love 7:00
11. Nice Work If You Can Get It 2:39
12. Willow, Weep for Me 3:10
13. My Man 3:32
14. Lover, Come Back to Me 2:07
15. Lady Sings the Blues 3:02
16. What a Little Moonlight Can Do 3:20
17. I'll Remember April 2:44
18. Body and Soul 3:52
19. McRae Introduces "Skyliner" 2:13
20. Introduction to Midnight Sun 1:03
21. Midnight Sun 4:12
22. Love Is Here to Stay 3:14
23. Perdido 2:47

Details of This Recording

  • Label: Verve
  • Credits:
  • Additional Info:
  • Styles:
    • Classic Female Blues
    • Ballads
    • Swing
    • American Popular Song
    • Standards
    • Traditional Pop
    • Vocal Jazz

Contents

This Can't Be Love; I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good); Body and Soul; Too Close For Comfort; Lullaby of Birdland; I've Got a Crush on You; I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter; April in Paris; Air Mail Special; I Can't Give You Anything but Love; Nice Work If You Can Get It; Willow, Weep for Me; My Man; Lover, Come Back to Me; Lady Sings the Blues; What a Little Moonlight Can Do; I'll Remember April; Body and Soul; McRae introduces Skyliner; Skyliner; McRae introduces the band and Midnight Sun; Midnight Sun; Love Is Here To Stay; Perdido.

Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, Vocals; Don Abney, Mal Waldron, Ray Bryant, Junior Mance, Pianos; Wendell Marshall, Joe Benjamin, Ike Isaacs, Basses; Jo Jones, Jimmy Cobb, Charles Specs Wright, Drums.

Extended Article

In 1957 the Newport Jazz Festival had established itself as the premiere live event on the jazz calendar. Also in 1957, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Carmen McRae were three of the greatest singers jazz had ever heard.

So what's more unbelieveable: that these performers appeared on successive nights on the same stage, or that a complete issue of their work there, though recorded, has never been released?

Here are the complete sets that Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Carmen McRae performed.

Read About This Recording

Three of the finest jazz singers of all-time each performed at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival. Ella Fitzgerald was at the height of her powers, a level at which she would remain for another 15 years. Backed by a trio led by pianist Don Abney, Ella digs happily into such numbers as I Got It Bad, Lullaby of Birdland and April In Paris, always swinging hard. She imitates Louis Armstrong on I Can't Give You Anything But Love and scats up a storm on Air Mail Special.

Billie Holiday was near the end of her career in 1957 but still had plenty left. With sympathetic backing by the Mal Waldron Trio, Lady Day performs such songs as Nice Work If You Can Get It, an emotional My Man and Herbie Nichols' Lady Sings The Blues.

Carmen McRae was just beginning to gain attention for her behind-the-beat phrasing and distinctive voice. During her portion of this CD, she is joined by two different trios (with either Ray Bryant or Junior Mance on piano) and makes such songs as I'll Remember April, Midnight Sun and Perdido sound fresh and new.

Even 47 years later, few female jazz singers (other than Sarah Vaughan) have ever reached the level of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Carmen McRae.

-Scott Yanow