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Thursday, February 26, 2015

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald



I've recently made a pact with myself to expand my vocal style and improve my technique, and in the process, I have been studying various vocal artists. One of those artists I am studying, and with whom I have become completely enamored, is Ella Fitzgerald.

Growing up, I had heard various "old" tunes that she was noted for, and of course, Louis Armstrong always came to mind when her name was mentioned, but other than being aware that she was queen of  scat and jazz, I never paid her much attention.  BIG mistake.  HUGE.  This woman was utterly amazing.  (Like, super-hero amazing.)

Here is an excerpt from her biography on her official website:

Dubbed "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century. In her lifetime, she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums.

Her voice was flexible, wide-ranging, accurate and ageless. She could sing sultry ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in an orchestra. She worked with all the jazz greats, from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Nat King Cole, to Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman. (Or rather, some might say all the jazz greats had the pleasure of working with Ella.)

She performed at top venues all over the world, and packed them to the hilt. Her audiences were as diverse as her vocal range. They were rich and poor, made up of all races, all religions and all nationalities. In fact, many of them had just one binding factor in common - they all loved her.

 Do yourself a favor and read her whole biography. 

This "crazy good" scat:



Oh, YEAH!!  If you are singer, you know how difficult this is.  She hits all the little passing notes of each riff with accuracy and makes it look easy, not to mention her ability to just "let herself go", and "wing it".  Study her kids!  If your not a singer, just enjoy :)

Ella was quoted as saying: "I sing like I feel"  Here's to feeling good Ella!  And, thanks for the very humbling performances.

Til next time...

Joellen

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