Glorious Miss Ella SOARS

Thanks to reader Dick, who points me toward, the Dartblog and this stunning, glorious rendition of Miss Ella Fitzgerald, singing and scatting her way through “Georgia on my Mind:”

Ella has some phrasal passages of impacting length, threaded with soulful scat. She always knew, instinctively, just how thickly she could layer the improvisation on a ballad like this. It is also worth noting that this is truly prime time for Ella: Georgia on My Mind was written for baritone, I think; transposed for her bluesy upband lilt it could have emerged as a piece of tin. Instead Ella reaches deeply, achieving an honest soprano version of what was originally a man’s love song.

A very good analysis, but no written word can capture what she does here – her clarity of tone, profound musicianship, full commitment to the music, to which she gives herself over completely, and her sheer genius. She makes it look so easy! See her at 2:03 – she is a trombone letting loose, God love her! What a talent!

A cup of the Mystic Monks incredible Dark Roast coffee and this video…I’m good until the pope lands!