Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book (Verve, 1957)

In a long-running collaborative effort with producer Norman Granz, Ella recorded numerous songbooks of notable composers, including Gershwin, Kern, Porter, Berlin, Arlen, Mercer, and Rodgers & Hart—each setting the standard for singers of every genre. There are at least two unique aspects to this particular collection. First, Ella sang Ellington’s compositions backed by his orchestra. Second, Duke’s tunes offered the perfect swinging platform for her innovative and distinctive scat singing, something rarely found on the other songbook recordings. LEE MERGNER

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