Jazz Alley

RE: Good article/book review about Ella Fitz

69.180.34.169

This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

In Reply to: RE: Good article/book review about Ella Fitz posted by Mike K on May 30, 2024 at 07:39:04

A recurrent theme among Ella's less charitable detractors was, as Vick notes, that she was a vocal technician hobbled by emotional immaturity (Hentoff's withering phrase "too often sounds like a child"). Maybe Ella didn't project the unbearable sorrow one hears in Billie's voice, but she always delivered. Saw her just once in '83 at the Kool Jazz Festival; her prowess and stamina drove the sold-out audience to delirium. The crowd brought her back for 4 encores (and doubtless wouldn't have stopped there if it was left up to her fans). It was one of those occasions when you realized you were in the presence of greatness.

Follow Ups: