Pure Ella

This vibrant sampler captures the swinging variety of Fitzgerald’s work for Verve, touching on her iconic collaborations, indelible singles, and some thrilling live cuts. Her prowess with scatted improvisation makes her rendition of “Mack the Knife” instantly memorable, and her smooth tones pay dividends when playing with Count Basie (“Tea for Two“). Her famous partnership with Duke Ellington is represented here on “Take the ‘A’ Train,” and her bluesy rapport with Satch shines on “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.”