We’re kicking off Black History Month (February) with a jazz legend, Ella Fitzgerald (more detailed biography for intermediate students), known as “The First Lady of Song.” She had a difficult childhood, and faced racism and segregation from an early age, but maintained a positive outlook on life. You can also listen to a read-aloud book on her called Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat Ella Fitzgerald by Roxane Orgill. Here is a small selection of what we’re listening to in class (I play a lot of these with my husband and friends in FAT Jazz! Look in the “Gallery” for a recording of us playing A Tisket A Tasket!). Did you know that Gerald in the famous Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems is named after Ella Fitzgerald (say “Elephant Gerald” really fast)?
A Tisket A Tasket (1938)
Summertime (1968) – we listened to the duet with Louis Armstrong (see George Gershwin)
Blue Skies – features scatting (nonsense syllables to improvise on a melody line)
It Don’t Mean a Thing (1965) – more scatting, Ella’s “doo-wah” copies the brass instruments (trumpets and trombones) closing and opening their plunger mutes (watch them in the background at 0:35); also listen to how fast the bass line is going!
Dream A Little Dream of Me – collaboration with Louis Armstrong
Moonlight in Vermont – collaboration with Frank Sinatra
More famous songs we didn’t have time for in class:
My Funny Valentine
All the Things You Are
Misty (1965) – one of my favourite jazz standards <3
Puttin on the Ritz
Lullaby of Birdland
Satin Doll (1966)
One Note Samba (1969) – even more scatting!
