Ella Fitzgerald: Ella in Berlin (Ltd. Ed.) (LP)

Ella Fitzgerald's Berlin visit comes in the middle of a long series of "songbook" recordings in which she worked with top orchestras led by Buddy Bregman, Nelson Riddle, Bill Doggett, Marty Paich, Frank DeVol and others. It may seem plausible, however, that in a small group, the musician's outstanding vocal abilities become most apparent. Of course, this also meant that musicians like pianist Paul Smith, with whom she also recorded "The Intimate Ella" at that time, were always in her shadow. Guitarist Jim Hall is better known for his own work, while bassist Wilfred Middlebrooks and drummer Gus Johnson combine the virtues of elastic swing and strict control of the beat. Ella may have forgotten the lyrics to "The Moritat of Mackie Messer," but she still made a show-stopping triumph of it, and the Berlin audience loved her for it. Or in reality, maybe she didn't forget after all? One will never know. One of the greatest concert recordings of the period.