Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan Ella Sings With Louis Jordan 180g Import LP

In 1934 after two years of singing on the streets of Harlem Ella Fitzgerald won one of the earliest 'Amateur Nights At The Apollo Theater'. Chick Webb offered her the opportunity to test with his band when they played a dance at Yale University and was offered to join Webb's orchestra and gained acclaim as part of the group's performances at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom. It was with the Chris Webb Orchestra she sang her first duets with Louis Jordan in New York, in 1937. In 1942 the advent of bebop led to new developments in Fitzgerald's vocal style, influenced by her work with Dizzy Gillespie's big band. It was in this period that Fitzgerald started including 'scat singing' as a major part of her performance repertoire.

In late 1936 Louis Jordan, a talented singer with great comedic flair, was invited to join the influential Savoy Ballroom orchestra, led by the drummer Chick Webb. Based at New York's Savoy Ballroom, Webb's orchestra was renowned as one of the best big bands of its day and regularly beat all comers at the Savoy's legendary cutting contests. Jordan worked with Webb until 1938, and it proved a vital stepping-stone in his career--Webb (who was physically disabled) was a fine musician but not a great showman. The ebullient Jordan often introduced songs as he began singing lead; he later recalled that many in the audience took him to be the band's leader, which undoubtedly boosted his confidence further. This was the same period when the young Ella Fitzgerald was coming to prominence as the Webb band's lead female vocalist; she and Jordan often sang duets on stage, and they later reprised their partnership on several records, by which time both were major stars.

A1-A2: New York City, October 8, 1945
A3-A4: New York City, April 15, 1950
A5: New York City, January 15, 1937
A6: New York City, March 24, 1937
B1-B2: New York City, April 28, 1949
Bonus Tracks: New York City, Mary 24, 1937