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Ella Fitzgerald

Singer and broadcaster Clare Teal celebrates the centenary of the greatest female singer of them all: Ella Fitzgerald. With guests Emma Kershaw, Louise Marshall and Mica Paris.

Another chance to hear a special tribute concert recorded at the Hackney Empire, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the legendary singer Ella Fitzgerald.

Starring Clare Teal, Mica Paris, Louise Marshall and Emma Kershaw with the ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe.

Amazingly, the greatest female jazz singer of the 20th century started out wanting to be a dancer. She had no ambitions for her voice at all. But fate, in the form of Ella's own nerves, took a hand. Having entered a talent competition as a dancer, she panicked when she saw the strength of the competition, and decided at the last minute not to dance, but to sing instead. A good decision: Ella won the contest and history was made.

The concert covers Ella's story from her earliest beginnings, working with band leader Chick Webb, to being introduced to the great producer Norman Granz and her extraordinary project with him recording the groundbreaking Songbooks series. These classic albums, arranged by the likes of Nelson Riddle, Duke Ellington, Billy May, Paul Weston and Buddy Bregman, featured the best songs of Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, The Gershwins, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington and Rodgers and Hart, and wrote a new chapter in recording history.

These luscious arrangements are heard alongside songs from her work with Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson. The concert also premieres new arrangements of Ella classics by the country's leading jazz arranger for orchestra and big band, Guy Barker.

First broadcast in 2017.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sun 23 Apr 2023 20:00

Music Played

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    High Adventure (Friday Night Is Music Night Sig Tune)

  • Clare Teal, Emma Kershaw, Mica Paris, Louise Marshall & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Manhattan

  • Clare Teal & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    A-Tisket A-Tasket

  • Louise Marshall & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    You're The Top

  • Mica Paris & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    I Was Doing Alright

  • Emma Kershaw & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Someone To Watch Over Me

  • Louise Marshall & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead

  • Clare Teal & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    S'Wonderful

  • Mica Paris & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Summertime

  • Emma Kershaw & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

  • Clare Teal & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Lush Life

  • Clare Teal, Emma Kershaw, Mica Paris, Louise Marshall & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Let's Do It

  • Gene Greene

    King Of The Bungaloos

  • Al Jolson

    That Haunting Melody

  • Louis Armstrong

    Heebie Jeebies

  • Cab Calloway

    Minnie The Moocher

  • Ella Fitzgerald

    How High the Moon

  • Scatman John

    Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)

  • Phil Harris & Louis Prima

    I Wanna Be Like You

  • Mica Paris & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Imagine My Frustration

  • Clare Teal & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    That Old Black Magic

  • Louise Marshall & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Love For Sale

  • Emma Kershaw & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    The Lady Is A Tramp

  • Clare Teal, Mica Paris & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    I Won't Dance

  • Louise Marshall & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Love Me Or Leave Me

  • Emma Kershaw & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    My Romance

  • Clare Teal & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Something's Gotta Give

  • Mica Paris & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

  • Clare Teal, Emma Kershaw, Mica Paris, Louise Marshall & ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Mack The Knife

Broadcasts

  • Fri 5 May 2017 20:00
  • Fri 22 Sep 2017 20:00
  • Sun 28 Feb 2021 19:00
  • Sun 23 Apr 2023 20:00