Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie! (Remastered) Ella Fitzgerald

• 1 A Night In Tunisia 04:08
• 2 You're My Thrill 03:38
• 3 My Reverie 03:18
• 4 Stella By Starlight 03:17
• 5 Round Midnight 03:28
• 6 Jersey Bounce 03:34
• 7 Signing Off 03:47
• 8 Cry Me A River 04:14
• 9 This Year's Kisses 02:18
• 10 Good Morning Heartache 04:20
• 11 (I Was) Born To Be Blue 02:42
• 12 Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie! 02:43
• 13 Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most 06:16
• 14 Music Goes Round And Around 02:29
• 15 The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else 02:15
• 16 I Got A Guy 03:44
• 17 This Could Be The Start Of Something Big 02:43
• Total Runtime 58:54

Info for Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie! (Remastered)

Seventeen numbers from the heyday of swing, composed sometime between 1930 and 1945 - played and sung time and time again in ballrooms, or on the radio to advertise biscuits or war bonds, were recorded by Ella in completely new and personal interpretations in 1961. No one should be put off by the rather unfortunate cover. Clap Hands... is absolutely top notch as regards musicality, perfect recording quality, superb accompaniment by a small ensemble, with room for improvisations; it offers a wonderful opportunity to discover something new in these evergreens, despite the occasionally banal lyrics. The songs of this recording conjure up bygone days, with listeners in the 21st century being offered a highly personal homage to one of the most successful periods in the 100-year history of jazz.

Many of the Ella Fitzgerald CDs in print are compilations and recently discovered live recordings, which makes this reissue with bonus tracks of a 1961 album that much more interesting. Produced by Norman Granz, this is a small-combo session with occasional and unobtrusive strings. Though Fitzgerald got her start as a big-band singer, smaller and more intimate combos fit her rich, velvety voice better than big brassy arrangements.

Opening with Dizzy Gillespie's classic 'Night in Tunisia,' which features some outstanding scatting, „Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie“ continues in that bop-oriented vein, with versions of 'Stella By Starlight' and Monk's ''Round Midnight.' The highest point on the album, though, is a stunning, stripped-down version of 'Cry Me a River.' The three bonus tracks, recorded during these sessions, are very good, but not revelatory, though the saucy 'I Got a Guy' is swinging fun.

Ella Fitzgerald, vocals
Lou Levy, piano
Herb Ellis, guitar
Joe Mondragon, bass
Wilfred Middlebrooks, bass
Stan Levey, drums
Gus Johnson, drums

Recorded in Los Angeles, California on June 22-23, 1961
Produced by Norman Granz

Digitally remastered

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This album contains no booklet.