There are few things music geeks love more than one unearthed, previously unknown recordingand that’s exactly what awaits fans of iconic jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald. On February 28, an album from a previously unreleased 1967 concert entitled “The Moment of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum” will be released on Verve Records, taken from a recording of a show recorded at the Oakland Coliseum on June 30, 1967, which recently was unearthed in Verve Records founder Norman Granz’s private tape collection.
The recordings were mixed and mastered from the original analog multi-track tapes, resulting in, according to the announcement, “pristine high-frequency sound not commonly heard for a live concert recording of that era.” Listen to the advance single for yourself here:
The album spans nine tracks, most of which have never been heard before, and features Fitzgerald accompanied by members of The Duke Ellington Orchestra.
Photo: Tom Cope
In the summer of 1967, Fitzgerald was in the midst of his three-year touring and recording collaboration with Ellington, incorporating late-’60s pop hits into his concert repertoire—two of which are presented for the first time on record on the album; “Alfie” and “Music To Watch Girls By.”
Moment of Truth: ELLA AT THE COLISEUM
1. The Moment of Truth – 2:52
2. Don’t Be That – 4:33
3. You’ve Changed – 4:37
4. Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love) – 4:43
5. Bye Bye Blackbird – 5:02
6. Alfie – 5:43
7. In A Mellow Tone – 4:41
8. Music To Watch Girls By – 3:56
9. Mack The Knife – 4:53
Recorded at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA on June 30, 1967.
BAND DETAILS:
Ella Fitzgerald – vocals
The trio:
Jimmy Jones – piano
Bob Cranshaw – bass
Sam Woodyard – drums
Members of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra:
Trumpets: Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams
Trombones: Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors, Buster Cooper
Reeds: Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope
