Record basics
- Album name: “A Classy Pair”: Ella Fitzgerald Sings / Count Basie Plays / With the Count Basie Orchestra
- Group name: the Count Basie Orchestra
- Artist name: Ella Fitzgerald
- Year: 1982
- Number of discs: one
- Label: Pablo Today
- Collection: Selman
- Buy it on Amazon: $18.00
My review
Level of familiarity before listening
I’ve never heard of this record and also never heard of Count Basie. I’ve previously reviewed two records that involved Ella Fitzgerald:
- Ella & Louis (1972): 4/5
- Billie Ella Lena Sarah (1980): 2/5
What I expected
Jazz.
What it was actually like
This was pretty similar to Ella & Louis, though comparably piano heavy, and I liked it about as much as I liked that one, and for the same reasons.
I did not recognize any of the songs, and the musical style was so consistent from song to song that I could not have picked a favorite or least favorite if I tried.
About Ella & Louis, I wrote:
The effect of listening to this record was to make me feel as if I was in a 1990s romantic comedy, and that I would just need some candles and a glass of wine to complete the mood, or maybe to be rushing through the streets in midtown on a rainy fall night, and step into a dimly lit bar, where I meet… someone.
Ditto. Also:
I wouldn’t listen to this all the time, but I probably would listen to it again when I’m entertaining guests, or maybe just one special guest!
Ditto. It’s great background music, and to add to what I wrote before, I’ve enjoyed listening to Ella Fitzgerald from time to time over the past few weeks while working or reading.
Grade
4/5: would listen again
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