A historic live concert recording of Ella Fitzgerald, captured at the Oakland Coliseum on June 30, 1967, has been discovered in Norman Granz's private tape collection and released by Verve Records.

The newly released album, "The Moment of Truth: Ella at the Coliseum," features nine tracks mixed and mastered from original analog multi-track tapes, delivering exceptional audio quality rare for that era. The performance captures Fitzgerald at a pivotal moment during her three-year collaboration with Duke Ellington, showcasing her versatility with both classic jazz standards and contemporary 1960s pop hits.

The recording features Fitzgerald backed by members of The Duke Ellington Orchestra, including legendary musicians Cat Anderson, Cootie Williams, Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, and Russell Procope. Her core band consists of Jimmy Jones, Bob Cranshaw, and Sam Woodyard.

Complete Tracklist:

• "The Moment of Truth" (2:52)
• "Don't Be That Way" (4:33)
• "You've Changed" (4:37)
• "Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)" (4:43)
• "Bye Bye Blackbird" (5:02)
• "Alfie" (5:43)
• "In a Mellow Tone" (4:41)
• "Music To Watch Girls By" (3:56)
• "Mack The Knife" (4:53)

Notable highlights include first-time recordings of "Alfie" and "Music to Watch Girls By," demonstrating Fitzgerald's ability to interpret contemporary pop music through her distinctive jazz style. The album captures both her powerful vocals and playful interactions with the audience, providing a comprehensive showcase of her legendary live performance abilities.

Related Articles

Previous Articles