If you’re going to venture into Ella Fitzgerald and her great voice, then you need to do the similarly-wonderful Etta James and “At Last.” It was my wife’s and my first dance at our wedding.
Frank Sinatra once said the only singer he was ever nervous singing with was Ella Fitzgerald. He was afraid he couldn't sing to her standard. A really great compliment to her singing. They did a duet of That's Why the Lady is a Tramp. Definitely worth checking out. Thanks for the reaction.
There is a great video of Frank and Ella singing together from the late 1950s, and Frank puts his arms around her. WASP America must've shuddered in horror, but Frank couldn't care less. They were both peerless. "Ella Live In Berlin" is a stone-cold classic.
@@robjones2408 Yes I’ve seen that video and it was classic classic classic I hope they play it By the way Frank didn’t give a flip about what everybody thought… He cared about what he thought and he did what he wanted to do, same held true for Sammy Davis Junior and everybody else that was talented was OK because that was the right way
I could never get over Ella’s voice. She has that mother voice warmth and is sweet as honey. I feel like a baby being sweetly cradled every time I hear her voice.
I love that Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe were friends. A popular Hollywood night club would not book Ella because of segregation. Marilyn told the manager that she would reserve a front row table every night Ella performed. Ella performed a week later. She was incredible!!💗
@@ianbeddowes5362 ...Oh, this whole crap again. Monroe had no communist connections unless you are referring to her marriage to the playwright, Arthur Miller, who appeared before the House Un-American Committee and was blacklisted for not naming names of those in the industry who might have had communist leanings. Monroe, bless her heart, was a fragile creature, long prone to using 'amphetamines, barbiturates and alcohol, and experienced various mental health problems that included depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and chronic insomnia'. Her affair with Kennedy had nothing to do with communism. Stop with this bullshit.
Ella has such an inspirational story. She was a homeless teenager, and was discovered at a talent show at the Apollo Theatre in New York. Her music has touched my soul - she is truly the First Lady of Song.
Ella has a voice like no other and is amazing at scatting and improvising. Her voice is like liquid gold so it's wonderful that you're discovering her - she's a classic and a true musician.
One of the voices of the 20th Century… but don’t forget the musicians backing her, especially Lou Levy on piano and the legendary Herb Ellis on guitar. Wonderful licks and lines interwoven with Ella’s vocal but never stepping on it. Class!
If there was ever a Perfect voice, it was Ella's. The way she played her voice like an instrument, was simply unmatched. There are wonderful videos of her and Sinatra performing together, where she takes over, to go on a scat riff, and Frank just sits down on the stage, and stares at her with wide eyed love and admiration, a kid in awe. That's how I feel every time I listen to Ella.
Congratulations! You have come across one of THE most recorded voices of the 20th century. Ella's catalogue is immense - her series of the "Great American Song Book" are the gold standards to which all others are compared. Also known as "Lady Time", Ella had a career that spanned 6 decades. One of the greats who we will never see the like of again
Ella and Louis did a lot of duets together. Selections from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”, classic jazz standards, etc. you really can’t go wrong, no matter what song(s) you choose!
Can't tell you how great it is to hear young people recognize the greatness of Ella Fitzgerald. She was more widely known as "The First Lady of Song". In my opinion she was the best who ever lived. You are absolutely right that in her era you could not hide. You either had it or you didn't. One song that shows her gifts as much or more than any was "These Foolish Things". It is worth your time to listen to it.
Just like someone else is already commented here “female songstress legend” and I don’t see many people on TH-cam reacting to her and I just don’t know why, thank you
Her voice was an instrument that other musicians were in awe of. My parents introduced her to me in the early 60's when I was a kid and I was lucky enough to see her in concert twice when I was older. She was amazing!
"Ella Fitzgerald is the only performer with whom I've ever worked who made me nervous, " Frank Sinatra said in 1959, "Because I try to work up to what she does. You know, try to pull myself up to that height because I believe she is the greatest popular singer in the world, barring none, male or female."
I just realized "Sinatra said. And all in quotes...My bad. You're still awesome to know that cool trivia!!! Thanks for steering me straight😇 @Andy Fletcher... Thanks. Reading too fast... Yikes
She was the queen of runs and scats. Back when I was singing I used to work hard to try to scat like her. She was amazing. Her holiday albums are my all time faves… It’s not Christmas until I hear my first Ella song.
To me, the holy trinity of female singers is Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Sarah for her perfect pitch and dynamic control, Billie for raw emotion and Ella for versatility and being able to use her voice as an extra instrument in the band. Anyone wanting to sing should listen to these three regularly for homework.
I remember seeing a PBS documentary on Ella Fitzgerald where she showed the strength of her range by actually shattering drinking glasses with her high notes. Her scat-singing, however, was positively unhinged. When she was scatting, she used her voice the way Stevie Ray Vaughn or Jimi Hendrix used their guitars.
Every vocal coach I have ever studied under has cited her no matter what gender you are to listen to her nuanced breath control. She was an absolute master!
This was the era where the "standards" were born. These artists could commanded the attention of a room the minute they picked up a microphone. They all loved to entertain and did it extremely well.
If Ella Fitzgerald is the Queen of Jazz then Billie Holiday is the Goddess. "God Bless the Child", "Solitude", "Them Their Eyes", Lover Boy", "Willow Weep for Me". There's not one song that you could go wrong with. Edit: I forgot to mention she also did a number of duets with Louis Armstrong. One of my favorites is "My Sweet Hunk O'Trash".
Blues too with Billi Holliday. Strange fruit is amazing. Billi played the South . She is said to have wrote this on the bus south . When her and the band so a lynching 😪🌍✌
Ella will amaze you. It’s probably insipid or trite to suggest “Summertime” because it’s such a ubiquitous jazz cover, but that song is lovely, influential, and so easy to listen to.
That duet album with Ella and Louis may be one of the best albums of all time…every song perfect. I can’t think of one to recommend over the rest-maybe April in Paris or Blanket of Blue. You’ll love it. FWIW, legend says she was Sinatra’s favorite duet partner and when you see them together Frank is obviously having the time of his life. Great choice.
Ella Fitzgerald had a great voice, excellent choice! You both have a wide taste in music just like myself. Some music you can just close your eyes and you can just feel it in your soul. Another jazz/soul singer you need to do is Aretha Franklin. I especially love her duet with George Michael- I knew you were waiting for me. They harmonize well together and hit some insane notes.The song is a timeless classic.
EXCELLENT!!. Go back a few more years...Billie Holiday. Try One for my Baby...oh hell, she has dozens and dozens of the coolest jazz and blues. "Lady Day" often sang with Louie.
I've always thought Ella was perfect to listen to anywhere, any time. Cup of coffee in the morning, hanging with friends, while doing chores, at dinner, at bedtime. Love her.
A jazz icon!! I love her song, "Mr. Paganini." Dinah Washington is another must. My favorite song ever is Dinah's song, "This Bitter Earth." Then there is the legendary Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne...so many amazing voices!
YES Ella YES! Glad you are getting into this era. Ella and Louis duets is such a fun avenue to drive down. You will love it. There are a bunch of wonderful male and female voices in this vein. Gold! You will of course hear of Billy Holiday and her distinctive voice....her singing 'Strange Fruit' is devastating, crushing, timely. But others less known: Etta James, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lena Horn, with Nina Simone for a unique sound and attitude. (ps Ella can swing and known for her incredible 'scat' singing) For Male Monday.....oh, do you have that? Try after Louis: Johnny Hartman (a crooner), Nate King Cole and maybe Joe Williams or Chet Baker (he is more known for his bluesy trumpet)
Please react to these horns Louis Armstrong + Ella Fitzgerald - they can't take that away from me Louis Armstrong + Ella Fitzgerald - dream a little dream for me Louis Armstrong + Ella Fitzgerald - summer time Louis Armstrong - La vie en rose Louis Armstrong - cheek to cheek Louis Armstrong - do u know what it means to miss new orleans Royal crown revue - Hey pachuko! (caught in the act live) Royal crown revue - Barflies at the beach (caught in the act live) Benny goodman - sing sing sing Frank sinatra - you make me feel so young Dean Martin - ain't that a kick in the head Billie holiday - I'll be seeing you Frankie valli - can't take my eyes off you The Andrews sisters - rum & coca cola Vera Lynn - we'll meet again Dame Shirley bassey - hey Big spender Dame Shirley bassey - goldfinger Kenny g - songbird Cannonball Adderley - mercy mercy mercy
Another voice like a trumpet.... So smooth, controlled, drifting through those notes. Over 60 years of beautiful music to listen to. Another singer to check out... Billy Holiday! The balance of vocals and band/orchestra was so well executed during these times.
There is a documentary by Ken Burns called Jazz that I think you both would enjoy. The sound track is incredible. it gives the backstory some of the artists you have listened to and you get to hear a lot of great music.
I grew up listening to great singers of color. There was no barrier in our home. Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, Mahalia Jackson, Pearl Bailey, Nina Simone. I could go on & on. Not to forget the men, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr. Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, B.B. King, Chuck Berry. There is so much great music out there. 72 tomorrow & the roller deck of songs in my head is enormous.
My parents were the same way. They were born in the 40's, and loved the music of Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker, and on and on. Loved it!!
Love your comment, Joan. My parents were the same way; they were small-town Minnesota: white, Scandinavian Lutherans, but they loved lots of kinds of music, they loved to dance, and they had no hate (or fear) in their hearts.
An amazing classic song...Awesome talent Queen Ella...I would have loved to see her live, in a dark night club and her voice just soaring thru my soul...Thanks so much Guys, Peace
When personal headphones first became a thing in the early 80s I used to lay on the floor listening to Ella and the hairs on the back of my neck would stand on end. It was like having music intravenously direct into your head 🎧
You never heard Miss Ella!?!?! She is the best in her field. Such a smooth voice. Now Pearl Bailey & Eartha Kitt. All have great voices because they knew their craft & nobody could do anything to electronically enhance their voices. They knew what to do w/their voices & how to take care of their voices.
Ok, now give Billie Holiday a try. My favorite is "Just the Thought of You" but if you want one with some serious social commentary try "Strange Fruit".
Ella is my favorite female singer of all time. Her pitch is perfect, the clarity of her tone, the control...all so flawless. Another favorite of mine is Dinah Washington. I swear, I would PAY you to listen to her version of Easy Living.
Anything Dinah Washington, she was sassy and sometimes you could the heartbreak in her voice. I love her version of Cry me a river and the heartbreaking, This love of mine.
elainemarsh5170 An interesting fact about Ella. She actually had Perfect Pitch, very rare, The Chick Webb band didna bother with tuning forks to tune. They just asked her to sing whatever notes they needed, and tuned by her pitch. She didna need to hear a reference note to work from. She could sing just any note asked for. It was all inside her.
Nina Simone, Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Ella! None of these ladies needed to hide anything.😁 I love this era. From the incredible musicians to the distinctive vocals, of not only the ladies but the gentlemen as well! I'm very happy that you have discovered the greatest form of music there is. MO ...I'm right though! 😁
You just listened to my favorite vocalist of all time. I have portrait of her hanging on my wall till this day. It was given to me by my friends for my birthday because they know how much I love this woman.
Yes, now you've gone and done it. This is the queen of female vocalist who's a huge catalogue of songs have stood the test of time. The rich texture, fabulous control, and signature sound are unrivalled. Oh, she is also the queen of scat as well. There are countless fabulous female singers but Ella stands alone. Great reaction!
Ohhhh NOW WE’RE COOKIN! 🔥 Ella is the greatest! So much to explore! Just read Wikipedia about her She sang almost up till she died. The whole Porgy and Bess album she did with Louis Armstrong!!! (I love you Porgy) And one of her last appearances was a live duet with Frank Sinatra (the Lady is a Tramp) which imho was the swan song/sign off for the big band jazz eras
Amber you need to “react” to Susan Tedeschi “It Hurts so Bad” the live version. You will love her voice!! She is playing with her husband Derek Trucks, one of the premier slide guitarist in The Tedeschi Trucks Band now. Love you guys!!!!👏👏😎
Before my time, but she was incredibly talented. Nancy Wilson, Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday are all from that era and worthy of female Friday. I hope you delve into their music also. Great reaction.
Ella was an acrobat with her vocals💕 I suggest you listen to the gorgeous female vocals of Eva Cassidy next, she had a bluesy acrobat quality as well! Songbird was played at my wedding but every song she sang was golden💕
Ella's voice was so iconic that in the 1970's, Memorex used her in a series of commercials to show off their audio cassette tapes. Here are two of them: th-cam.com/video/PN8cHwamcJA/w-d-xo.html
I just discovered the song cheek to cheek by Ella and Louis and oh my god I can't stop listening to it, it's stunning and they seemed to have great rapport together too. Another great female artist who I'm sure you've covered is Tracy Chapman, she does a song called behind the wall and it's just her singing, no instruments. It's so powerful!
Ella is my favorite female singer of all time - The Queen is an understatement! Her voice is like silk, her pitch is perfect. She and Louis Armstrong made 3 albums together, all 3 brilliant.... NOBODY sings like Ella.
Ella had perfect pitch, which is a kind of mutant superpower: if she sang a note, it was always the absolute middle of that note, pitch perfect. babies have perfect pitch, but the vast majority of us lose it as we mature.
@@armadillotoe They don't. Babies couldn't have perfect pitch, because the musical scales we use are cultural and not universal. And even for the concept of our western 12 tones, each note don't have a fixed frequency.
You said play with their sound. Exactly right; their voice was their instrument and the played it just like any other instrument. Kudos to you both for discovering the era where singers (as well as instrumentalists) were truly masters of their craft. As you said, no faking talent back then!
Ella Fitzgerald was truly one of the greats! She has so many wonderful songs you need to listen to, just deep dive into her catalogue lol. Julie London has a really good rendition of this song as well. Also “Nice Girls Don’t Stay for Breakfast” is a fun song by her.
Thank you, thank you so much. I have been waiting for you all to react to Ella Fitzgerald. Did you see where her voice is so pure that she could literally break glass with it?
If you want great Jazz, check out Duke Ellington In a Sentimental Mood, Dave Brubeck Take 5, Miles Davis Flemenco Sketches, and Thelonious Monk Ruby My Dear, all instrumentals.
Ella's voice was more than beautiful. She was the Queen of Scat. Just for fun, give a listen to Joe Cocker's rendition of Cry Me A River. There was a pure musicality in what singers of that time did, and that has been lost. You would never even imagine seeing Ella parading around the stage like Megan Thee Stallion does. Too much self-respect.
I've always loved this song and it gets extra points for using the word "plebeian" and rhyme it with "me and" and it works so well. Does not seem forced or cutesy at all.
I grew up in the 60sand70s listening to her classics and she is great. I am so glad you are loving something that I loved . I was a singer as a child and I knew she was untouchable.
When you two decide to go the duet route - in 1956 the "Ella and Louis" album was released. It is absolutely the best duet album ever made in my opinion. They later did another one..... "Ella and Louis Again"..... and an album where they sang songs from "Porgy and Bess". If you ever decide to start doing full album reactions on Patreon you couldn't go wrong with any of those!
Ella is one of the great songstresses of the 20th century. Thank you so much, Amber, for exploring this stuff. I had the great pleasure of hearing her in late career. Very much yes, the Queen of Jazz. Rob, Ella and Louie's voices couldn't be any different!
Ella's inimitable, effortless but incredibly detailed and emotionally deep. You should listen to some Dinah Washington (I'd suggest starting out with "This Bitter Earth" though all her recordings (she was noted for refusing to be limited declaring that she could sing anything) are wonderful. Her biggest hit was "What a Difference A Day Made", her tonal quality was rougher, actually more similar to Louie Armstrong's than Ella. She died young, only 39, but left behind a great legacy of music.
I appreciate this music and I also appreciate the fact that you two are giving this type of music a chance and listening to it with an open mind. Thank you!
Ella had the most amazing voice. As a kid, I only heard her scat, and really didn’t care for it. But, as I got older I listened to her older stuff and now I am a huge fan girl. My all time favorite is “All the things you are”. She can do such wonderful things with her voice.
Back in those days there was a lot more live music, so these musicians were playing gigs 5-6 nights a week. Those who had the talent and the temperament worked hard and got good. Live music is so much less prevalent, so talented people have less opportunity to build up their chops in front of people, which makes a huge difference. I think that explains why there’s so much reliance on studio tricks; it’s not a lack of talented people, it’s a difference in culture.
I think it's a combination of that + celebrity/fame culture + technology increasingly supplanting the traditional gatekeepers while lowering the barrier to entry. People *can* do more with less so they do because everybody wants to be rich and famous. The potential Ellas get lost in the noise of mob narcissism.
@@armadillotoe Yeah, true. When the people who see art only as an investment are put in charge of the art, you're obviously going to see a lot more Britneys and far fewer Nina Simones.
She was known as "The First Lady of Song"...incredibly versatile, lovely instrument...I think you'd enjoy any of her duets with Frank Sinatra, as well as those with Louis Armstrong...
My grandfather turned me on to blues and jazz with his fantastic album collection. I fell in love with Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn even though I was a 70s rock girl.
If you’re going to venture into Ella Fitzgerald and her great voice, then you need to do the similarly-wonderful Etta James and “At Last.” It was my wife’s and my first dance at our wedding.
"At Last" is must for you two.
Yes, the wonderful Etta James! And At Last is fabulous.
Definitely "At Last"!!
At Last by Etta James is as perfect a combo of song and voice as ever there was.
Yes this!
Welcome to one of the greatest singers who ever lived!!! Meet Ella!
Frank Sinatra once said the only singer he was ever nervous singing with was Ella Fitzgerald. He was afraid he couldn't sing to her standard. A really great compliment to her singing. They did a duet of That's Why the Lady is a Tramp. Definitely worth checking out. Thanks for the reaction.
I work in a store and when that song comes I always let it play knowing the political correct customers are fuming. Lol.
There is a great video of Frank and Ella singing together from the late 1950s, and Frank puts his arms around her. WASP America must've shuddered in horror, but Frank
couldn't care less. They were both peerless. "Ella Live In Berlin" is a stone-cold classic.
@@robjones2408 Yes I’ve seen that video and it was classic classic classic I hope they play it
By the way Frank didn’t give a flip about what everybody thought… He cared about what he thought and he did what he wanted to do, same held true for Sammy Davis Junior and everybody else that was talented was OK because that was the right way
She was a wonderful singer and so was he. He is quoted as saying that she didn't know how to use s microphone well...
@@magloyd4907 ....Really? All you can offer is this rather stupid snippit of 'information'?
I could never get over Ella’s voice. She has that mother voice warmth and is sweet as honey. I feel like a baby being sweetly cradled every time I hear her voice.
I love that Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe were friends. A popular Hollywood night club would not book Ella because of segregation. Marilyn told the manager that she would reserve a front row table every night Ella performed. Ella performed a week later. She was incredible!!💗
Marilyn Monroe was very progressive, even had Communist connections. That is why, being girlfriend of the President, that they killed her.
@@ianbeddowes5362 ...Oh, this whole crap again. Monroe had no communist connections unless you are referring to her marriage to the playwright, Arthur Miller, who appeared before the House Un-American Committee and was blacklisted for not naming names of those in the industry who might have had communist leanings. Monroe, bless her heart, was a fragile creature, long prone to using 'amphetamines, barbiturates and alcohol, and experienced various mental health problems that included depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and chronic insomnia'. Her affair with Kennedy had nothing to do with communism. Stop with this bullshit.
@@2eleven48 But what is true is her standing up for Ella, and against the racism she experienced. They remained good friends until Marilyn's death.
@@bonepicker1 ...I never said otherwise.
Im 80 yrs old and Ella has always had the best voice I've ever heard.
Agreed. An American success in every sense
Ella has such an inspirational story. She was a homeless teenager, and was discovered at a talent show at the Apollo Theatre in New York. Her music has touched my soul - she is truly the First Lady of Song.
My favorite vocalist, period.
You need to add that she originally was auditioning as a dancer, but she was so nervous, her knees were shaking, so she sang instead.
@@randyhuman I thought that was Sarah Vaughn?
Ella also spent time in a reform school for juveniles when she was 15 years old.
You have found the queen! Her voice and delivery- perfection! The shadings and her interpretations- unequaled! And, Amber, that woman can skat! 😊❤❤❤
She introduced me to skat on one of those variety shows in the late sixties - not Ed Sullivan.
You can add Sarah Vaughan to your female Fridays along the lines of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie holiday… Can’t go wrong
Great choice! One of my mother’s favorite singers.
Absolutely. "Summertime" "Over the Rainbow" "Send in the Clowns"
Don't forget Julie London.
Get Ether Kitt you are going to blow your minds
She is the Queen of ALL singing. My favorite singer, period.
Ella has a voice like no other and is amazing at scatting and improvising. Her voice is like liquid gold so it's wonderful that you're discovering her - she's a classic and a true musician.
Jes, you may like Madeline Peyroux "Don't Wait Too Long". I get Ella vibes every time I hear that song
Originally it was called rapping, not scatting as they sang over notes where scat was singing over notes.
One of the voices of the 20th Century… but don’t forget the musicians backing her, especially Lou Levy on piano and the legendary Herb Ellis on guitar. Wonderful licks and lines interwoven with Ella’s vocal but never stepping on it. Class!
Herb Ellis? Joe Pass was the man!
If there was ever a Perfect voice, it was Ella's. The way she played her voice like an instrument, was simply unmatched. There are wonderful videos of her and Sinatra performing together, where she takes over, to go on a scat riff, and Frank just sits down on the stage, and stares at her with wide eyed love and admiration, a kid in awe.
That's how I feel every time I listen to Ella.
No one could scat like Ella!
Congratulations! You have come across one of THE most recorded voices of the 20th century. Ella's catalogue is immense - her series of the "Great American Song Book" are the gold standards to which all others are compared. Also known as "Lady Time", Ella had a career that spanned 6 decades. One of the greats who we will never see the like of again
Ella and Louis did a lot of duets together. Selections from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”, classic jazz standards, etc. you really can’t go wrong, no matter what song(s) you choose!
Love Porgy & Bess!!! I’ve seen Porgy’s grave!!!
Can't tell you how great it is to hear young people recognize the greatness of Ella Fitzgerald. She was more widely known as "The First Lady of Song". In my opinion she was the best who ever lived. You are absolutely right that in her era you could not hide. You either had it or you didn't. One song that shows her gifts as much or more than any was "These Foolish Things". It is worth your time to listen to it.
I would gladly listen to Ella sing the phone book.
One of the greatest voices of all time.
Just like someone else is already commented here “female songstress legend” and I don’t see many people on TH-cam reacting to her and I just don’t know why, thank you
I love Ella and her voice is perfection. My favorite is Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered but To Keep My Love Alive is a close second.
Her voice was an instrument that other musicians were in awe of. My parents introduced her to me in the early 60's when I was a kid and I was lucky enough to see her in concert twice when I was older. She was amazing!
I always get goosebumps when I hear Ella Fitzgerald sing - just gorgeous. You should listen to her sing Summertime.
Agreed.
"Ella Fitzgerald is the only performer with whom I've ever worked who made me nervous, " Frank Sinatra said in 1959, "Because I try to work up to what she does. You know, try to pull myself up to that height because I believe she is the greatest popular singer in the world, barring none, male or female."
Awesome you worked with her. You must be an amazing person too!🙂
@@dianeorr8937 That was Sinatra, not OP...
I just realized "Sinatra said. And all in quotes...My bad. You're still awesome to know that cool trivia!!! Thanks for steering me straight😇 @Andy Fletcher... Thanks. Reading too fast... Yikes
Love Ella...and she was one of the first who was known by just her first name. She was also the queen of scat.
Ella is THE G.O.A.T. of scat! Check out "How High The Moon".
Nah fuck all that. She's the GOAT of vocals in general
I absolutely love this singer. She’s one of my favorites.
She was the queen of runs and scats. Back when I was singing I used to work hard to try to scat like her. She was amazing. Her holiday albums are my all time faves… It’s not Christmas until I hear my first Ella song.
The Queen of Jazz and *THE BEST* scat singer of all time. Pure genius.
To me, the holy trinity of female singers is Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Sarah for her perfect pitch and dynamic control, Billie for raw emotion and Ella for versatility and being able to use her voice as an extra instrument in the band. Anyone wanting to sing should listen to these three regularly for homework.
I would drop Billie Holiday and add Beth Hart in that list
No one should ever drop Lady Day.
Nina Simone belongs in your list somewhere, personal opinion
Bingo. I LOVED SARAH VAUGHN!!!!!!!!
From that era I would add Dinah Washington.
I remember seeing a PBS documentary on Ella Fitzgerald where she showed the strength of her range by actually shattering drinking glasses with her high notes.
Her scat-singing, however, was positively unhinged. When she was scatting, she used her voice the way Stevie Ray Vaughn or Jimi Hendrix used their guitars.
Every vocal coach I have ever studied under has cited her no matter what gender you are to listen to her nuanced breath control. She was an absolute master!
This was the era where the "standards" were born. These artists could commanded the attention of a room the minute they picked up a microphone. They all loved to entertain and did it extremely well.
No one could do it like Ella. The song Mustang Sally was reportedly written for her and she is super great
The most perfect voice ever. My fave duet with Louis Armstrong is Dream a Little Dream. Ella singing "Begine the Beguine" is my phone ringtone.
If Ella Fitzgerald is the Queen of Jazz then Billie Holiday is the Goddess. "God Bless the Child", "Solitude", "Them Their Eyes", Lover Boy", "Willow Weep for Me". There's not one song that you could go wrong with.
Edit: I forgot to mention she also did a number of duets with Louis Armstrong. One of my favorites is "My Sweet Hunk O'Trash".
Billie is amazing also…
You forgot Strange Fruit
Blues too with Billi Holliday. Strange fruit is amazing. Billi played the South . She is said to have wrote this on the bus south . When her and the band so a lynching 😪🌍✌
Saw a *
Ella will amaze you. It’s probably insipid or trite to suggest “Summertime” because it’s such a ubiquitous jazz cover, but that song is lovely, influential, and so easy to listen to.
Ella is the Queen, Glad to see you listening to her. Also, you two are awesome, love watching your reactions.
Ella sings the Cole Porter songbook. is one of the greatest jazz albums of all time.
Yessss! ❤
That duet album with Ella and Louis may be one of the best albums of all time…every song perfect. I can’t think of one to recommend over the rest-maybe April in Paris or Blanket of Blue. You’ll love it.
FWIW, legend says she was Sinatra’s favorite duet partner and when you see them together Frank is obviously having the time of his life.
Great choice.
Ella Fitzgerald had a great voice, excellent choice! You both have a wide taste in music just like myself. Some music you can just close your eyes and you can just feel it in your soul. Another jazz/soul singer you need to do is Aretha Franklin. I especially love her duet with George Michael- I knew you were waiting for me. They harmonize well together and hit some insane notes.The song is a timeless classic.
Thank you for putting Aretha in this same class different time but same quality
'Aretha sings the Blues' is one of the best Albums you could listen to. Just pop on the CD/Vinyl, lie back and reeeelax.
EXCELLENT!!. Go back a few more years...Billie Holiday. Try One for my Baby...oh hell, she has dozens and dozens of the coolest jazz and blues. "Lady Day" often sang with Louie.
Billie Holiday, Nina Simone you have only just scratched the surface.
Amber! The look on your face thru the whole song said, "It can't get any better than this!" You are right, it can't.
I love Ella's rendition of " Begin the Bequine", a Cole Porter tune.
I LOVE when she sings Cole Porter…
🥰🥰🥰
I've always thought Ella was perfect to listen to anywhere, any time. Cup of coffee in the morning, hanging with friends, while doing chores, at dinner, at bedtime. Love her.
She’s my favorite female vocalist, ever!
One of the greatest singers of all time. Period.
A jazz icon!! I love her song, "Mr. Paganini." Dinah Washington is another must. My favorite song ever is Dinah's song, "This Bitter Earth." Then there is the legendary Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne...so many amazing voices!
Yes... Lena Horne
YES Ella YES!
Glad you are getting into this era. Ella and Louis duets is such a fun avenue to drive down. You will love it. There are a bunch of wonderful male and female voices in this vein. Gold!
You will of course hear of Billy Holiday and her distinctive voice....her singing 'Strange Fruit' is devastating, crushing, timely. But others less known: Etta James, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lena Horn, with Nina Simone for a unique sound and attitude. (ps Ella can swing and known for her incredible 'scat' singing)
For Male Monday.....oh, do you have that? Try after Louis: Johnny Hartman (a crooner), Nate King Cole and maybe Joe Williams or Chet Baker (he is more known for his bluesy trumpet)
Her version of Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered is amazing.
Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered by Ella. Her perfect voice and perfect lyrics.
Please react to these horns
Louis Armstrong + Ella Fitzgerald - they can't take that away from me
Louis Armstrong + Ella Fitzgerald - dream a little dream for me
Louis Armstrong + Ella Fitzgerald - summer time
Louis Armstrong - La vie en rose
Louis Armstrong - cheek to cheek
Louis Armstrong - do u know what it means to miss new orleans
Royal crown revue - Hey pachuko! (caught in the act live)
Royal crown revue - Barflies at the beach (caught in the act live)
Benny goodman - sing sing sing
Frank sinatra - you make me feel so young
Dean Martin - ain't that a kick in the head
Billie holiday - I'll be seeing you
Frankie valli - can't take my eyes off you
The Andrews sisters - rum & coca cola
Vera Lynn - we'll meet again
Dame Shirley bassey - hey Big spender
Dame Shirley bassey - goldfinger
Kenny g - songbird
Cannonball Adderley - mercy mercy mercy
This is one hell of a fabulous list!
ALL EXCELLENT choces!
BUT,my favorite Louis Armstrong song ever,is A Kiss To Build A Dream On! Killer horn solo!
That’s a STUNNING list of tracks and all are well well worth it !
My girl Ella!! Voice as smooth as silk and she can scat with the best of them! You guys are so eclectic in your taste and I dig that about you!
you should hear Ella sing SCAT! Phenomenal!
Oh yes, the Ella Fitzgerald scat! Wow, the best
I was thinking the same thing.lol
Another voice like a trumpet....
So smooth, controlled, drifting through those notes. Over 60 years of beautiful music to listen to.
Another singer to check out...
Billy Holiday! The balance of vocals and band/orchestra was so well executed during these times.
There is a documentary by Ken Burns called Jazz that I think you both would enjoy. The sound track is incredible. it gives the backstory some of the artists you have listened to and you get to hear a lot of great music.
Discovered jazz 50 years ago at 14. Liked a lot of other genres, but jazz has been it. Burns documentary is very flawed.
Ella's bell tone voice--incredible--perfect musicality--an instrument in the truest sense.
I grew up listening to great singers of color. There was no barrier in our home. Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, Mahalia Jackson, Pearl Bailey, Nina Simone. I could go on & on. Not to forget the men, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr. Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, B.B. King, Chuck Berry. There is so much great music out there. 72 tomorrow & the roller deck of songs in my head is enormous.
My parents were the same way. They were born in the 40's, and loved the music of Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker, and on and on. Loved it!!
@@rickswhiskeyjourney We've lived through some awesome music.
My dad had a love affair going on with Lena Horne. My mom thought it was so funny, "She wouldn't look twice at you". :-)
Same as that.... being mixed race the word boundary didn't exist musically.
Love your comment, Joan. My parents were the same way; they were small-town Minnesota: white, Scandinavian Lutherans, but they loved lots of kinds of music, they loved to dance, and they had no hate (or fear) in their hearts.
An amazing classic song...Awesome talent Queen Ella...I would have loved to see her live, in a dark night club and her voice just soaring thru my soul...Thanks so much Guys, Peace
When personal headphones first became a thing in the early 80s I used to lay on the floor listening to Ella and the hairs on the back of my neck would stand on end. It was like having music intravenously direct into your head 🎧
Ella was known as the Queen of scat as you hear some in this song.
You never heard Miss Ella!?!?! She is the best in her field. Such a smooth voice. Now Pearl Bailey & Eartha Kitt. All have great voices because they knew their craft & nobody could do anything to electronically enhance their voices. They knew what to do w/their voices & how to take care of their voices.
Yes ma'am, love Pearl Bailey
oh, yeah! Nobody can sing like Ella! Thank you so much for this. Hope you will be doing more of her.
Ok, now give Billie Holiday a try. My favorite is "Just the Thought of You" but if you want one with some serious social commentary try "Strange Fruit".
Ella is my favorite female singer of all time. Her pitch is perfect, the clarity of her tone, the control...all so flawless. Another favorite of mine is Dinah Washington. I swear, I would PAY you to listen to her version of Easy Living.
Anything Dinah Washington, she was sassy and sometimes you could the heartbreak in her voice. I love her version of Cry me a river and the heartbreaking, This love of mine.
elainemarsh5170
An interesting fact about Ella. She actually had Perfect Pitch, very rare, The Chick Webb band didna bother with tuning forks to tune. They just asked her to sing whatever notes they needed, and tuned by her pitch. She didna need to hear a reference note to work from. She could sing just any note asked for. It was all inside her.
Nina Simone, Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Ella! None of these ladies needed to hide anything.😁 I love this era. From the incredible musicians to the distinctive vocals, of not only the ladies but the gentlemen as well! I'm very happy that you have discovered the greatest form of music there is. MO ...I'm right though! 😁
You just listened to my favorite vocalist of all time. I have portrait of her hanging on my wall till this day. It was given to me by my friends for my birthday because they know how much I love this woman.
She's also a great piano player so she often sings while playing.
I’ve never seen her play the piano. You might be thinking of someone else.
Yes, now you've gone and done it. This is the queen of female vocalist who's a huge catalogue of songs have stood the test of time. The rich texture, fabulous control, and signature sound are unrivalled. Oh, she is also the queen of scat as well. There are countless fabulous female singers but Ella stands alone. Great reaction!
Ohhhh NOW WE’RE COOKIN! 🔥
Ella is the greatest!
So much to explore!
Just read Wikipedia about her
She sang almost up till she died.
The whole Porgy and Bess album she did with Louis Armstrong!!! (I love you Porgy)
And one of her last appearances was a live duet with Frank Sinatra (the Lady is a Tramp) which imho was the swan song/sign off for the big band jazz eras
Amber you need to “react” to Susan Tedeschi “It Hurts so Bad” the live version. You will love her voice!! She is playing with her husband Derek Trucks, one of the premier slide guitarist in The Tedeschi Trucks Band now.
Love you guys!!!!👏👏😎
jay will love there horns
Before my time, but she was incredibly talented. Nancy Wilson, Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday are all from that era and worthy of female Friday. I hope you delve into their music also. Great reaction.
Don't forget Nina Simone
I know Nancy Wilson as one of the two sisters from Heart. I assume this was a different one.
@@Shrykespeare Yes, she was a jazz singer who predated Heart by a number of years. Definitely worth checking out.
Ella's recording of the Rodgers & Hart song book is the best vocal performance I've ever heard.
Ella and Louis is one of the best albums ever made. The entire album.
Ella was an acrobat with her vocals💕
I suggest you listen to the gorgeous female vocals of Eva Cassidy next, she had a bluesy acrobat quality as well! Songbird was played at my wedding but every song she sang was golden💕
Ella's voice was so iconic that in the 1970's, Memorex used her in a series of commercials to show off their audio cassette tapes. Here are two of them: th-cam.com/video/PN8cHwamcJA/w-d-xo.html
I loved those commercials!
I just discovered the song cheek to cheek by Ella and Louis and oh my god I can't stop listening to it, it's stunning and they seemed to have great rapport together too.
Another great female artist who I'm sure you've covered is Tracy Chapman, she does a song called behind the wall and it's just her singing, no instruments. It's so powerful!
At Last by Etta James would be a good follow up for sure.
Ella is my favorite female singer of all time - The Queen is an understatement! Her voice is like silk, her pitch is perfect. She and Louis Armstrong made 3 albums together, all 3 brilliant.... NOBODY sings like Ella.
Ella had perfect pitch, which is a kind of mutant superpower: if she sang a note, it was always the absolute middle of that note, pitch perfect. babies have perfect pitch, but the vast majority of us lose it as we mature.
???? babies have perfect pitch????? How could anyone know that?
I heard that Duke Ellington would use her to tune up the orchestra instead of a tuning fork! 🤣
@@armadillotoe They don't. Babies couldn't have perfect pitch, because the musical scales we use are cultural and not universal. And even for the concept of our western 12 tones, each note don't have a fixed frequency.
You said play with their sound. Exactly right; their voice was their instrument and the played it just like any other instrument. Kudos to you both for discovering the era where singers (as well as instrumentalists) were truly masters of their craft. As you said, no faking talent back then!
Ella also did songs with Loius Armstrong like Dream a little dream of me where Louis plays trumpet and she sings!
Ella Fitzgerald was truly one of the greats! She has so many wonderful songs you need to listen to, just deep dive into her catalogue lol.
Julie London has a really good rendition of this song as well. Also “Nice Girls Don’t Stay for Breakfast” is a fun song by her.
Listen to her do Summertime. Frank Sinatra thought she was the best singer he'd ever heard. Also, Etta James, with At Last.
Summertime was my favorite song. Could listen to it over and over.
Etta james I’d Rather Go Blind
Thank you, thank you so much. I have been waiting for you all to react to Ella Fitzgerald. Did you see where her voice is so pure that she could literally break glass with it?
If you want great Jazz, check out Duke Ellington In a Sentimental Mood, Dave Brubeck Take 5, Miles Davis Flemenco Sketches, and Thelonious Monk Ruby My Dear, all instrumentals.
Ella's voice was more than beautiful. She was the Queen of Scat. Just for fun, give a listen to Joe Cocker's rendition of Cry Me A River. There was a pure musicality in what singers of that time did, and that has been lost. You would never even imagine seeing Ella parading around the stage like Megan Thee Stallion does. Too much self-respect.
Ella is up there with Nina Simone for me,such powerful voices, Nina's "sinner man" would be a great reaction.
I love Nina Simone's voice, but I've never cared for her phrasing on most songs.
Simone's Love Me Or Leave Me is wonderful, giving us her piano genius as well as her singing.
@@sanniepstein4835 agreed 👍
Love “Sinner Man”. Can’t help but think of Sherlock or The Thomas Crown Affair (remake) when I hear it.
@@MsAppassionata I think the umbrella academy 🤔
The best singer ever. Smooth, silky, sweet.
I've always loved this song and it gets extra points for using the word "plebeian" and rhyme it with "me and" and it works so well. Does not seem forced or cutesy at all.
Joe cocker of all people did an incredible version of this song in the woodstock era.
I grew up in the 60sand70s listening to her classics and she is great. I am so glad you are loving something that I loved . I was a singer as a child and I knew she was untouchable.
When you two decide to go the duet route - in 1956 the "Ella and Louis" album was released. It is absolutely the best duet album ever made in my opinion. They later did another one..... "Ella and Louis Again"..... and an album where they sang songs from "Porgy and Bess". If you ever decide to start doing full album reactions on Patreon you couldn't go wrong with any of those!
I have that CD! And it's one of my favorites. It's my favorite sing- along CD too. But only when no one else is in the apartment. Lol
Ella is one of the great songstresses of the 20th century. Thank you so much, Amber, for exploring this stuff. I had the great pleasure of hearing her in late career. Very much yes, the Queen of Jazz.
Rob, Ella and Louie's voices couldn't be any different!
Ella's inimitable, effortless but incredibly detailed and emotionally deep.
You should listen to some Dinah Washington (I'd suggest starting out with "This Bitter Earth" though all her recordings (she was noted for refusing to be limited declaring that she could sing anything) are wonderful. Her biggest hit was "What a Difference A Day Made", her tonal quality was rougher, actually more similar to Louie Armstrong's than Ella. She died young, only 39, but left behind a great legacy of music.
Yes, she could sing anything. She even covered country. It was a Hank Williams song Your Cheatin Heart
Dinah Washington “September in the Rain” is a big boss song!
@@DavidKing-ut9wr Our love is here to stay! Dinah is my favorite jazz singer!
Easy Living. It just slays me.
“Only You”. The Platters
“Cab Driver”. The Mills Brothers
These groups fit right into this era, both are exceptionally good.
I appreciate this music and I also appreciate the fact that you two are giving this type of music a chance and listening to it with an open mind. Thank you!
Ella had the most amazing voice. As a kid, I only heard her scat, and really didn’t care for it. But, as I got older I listened to her older stuff and now I am a huge fan girl. My all time favorite is “All the things you are”. She can do such wonderful things with her voice.
Back in those days there was a lot more live music, so these musicians were playing gigs 5-6 nights a week. Those who had the talent and the temperament worked hard and got good. Live music is so much less prevalent, so talented people have less opportunity to build up their chops in front of people, which makes a huge difference. I think that explains why there’s so much reliance on studio tricks; it’s not a lack of talented people, it’s a difference in culture.
I think it's a combination of that + celebrity/fame culture + technology increasingly supplanting the traditional gatekeepers while lowering the barrier to entry. People *can* do more with less so they do because everybody wants to be rich and famous. The potential Ellas get lost in the noise of mob narcissism.
And the control the music industry bean counters have over who gets heard.
@@armadillotoe Yeah, true. When the people who see art only as an investment are put in charge of the art, you're obviously going to see a lot more Britneys and far fewer Nina Simones.
She was known as "The First Lady of Song"...incredibly versatile, lovely instrument...I think you'd enjoy any of her duets with Frank Sinatra, as well as those with Louis Armstrong...
Yes! Such a powerful voice. Orchestras had to "tune up" to accompany her.
You have got to listen to Billie Holiday.
My grandfather turned me on to blues and jazz with his fantastic album collection. I fell in love with Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn even though I was a 70s rock girl.