Moment of Truth - Ella at the Coliseum
Ella Fitzgerald
Ume 602475454267 (shop.ellafitzgerald.com/products/the-moment-of-truth-ella-at-the-coliseum-digital)
Now this right here is a true discovery! On June 30, 1967 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena, Ella Fitzgerald appeared with her trio, members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and entertained a rapturous audience that inspired her deeply.
While the First Lady of Song’s voice was a few years beyond the peak of her powers, it was still a magnificent instrument at the time of this recording. She still had the bell-like tone for ballads (You’ve Changed), the sensational ability to swing like a gate (The Moment of Truth), and a childlike imagination in her scat singing (In a Mellow Tone). Most impressive is her adventurous phrasing throughout; the coda on Don’t Be That Way stretches the title phrase effortlessly into upwards of 40 notes, in what is just one of several jaw-dropping moments in the set.
The inclusion of songs never before heard in Fitzgerald’s discography make this album particularly exciting, especially the pitch-perfect version Alfie, which of course was a big hit the year before this concert, and Music to Watch Girls By, a great example of her ability to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Bye Bye Blackbird is loose as a goose with the delicious spontaneity of a late-night jam session.
Audiophiles should know that the mixing and mastering of this album are very impressive – it feels like you are right there in the audience, cheering on one of the greatest artists in jazz history.
