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The global jazz community looks with great reverence at an absolutely spectacular release from the renowned house of Gearbox Records. A true sensation is on the horizon for all music lovers, as long-lost recordings of the legendary artist finally appear in stores. With the historically significant live album Ella Fitzgerald Live at Falkoner Theatre Copenhagen, listeners receive an intimate portrait of the „First Lady of Song“ during her remarkable late career. The carefully restored work captures two extraordinary concerts from the year 1966 in the Danish capital perfectly. The unforgettable jazz icon presents herself on this recording with an unprecedented ease and an infectious, lively energy before the Scandinavian audience. The long-awaited album Ella Fitzgerald Live at Falkoner Theatre Copenhagen thus closes a painful gap in the extensive discography of this exceptional artist. The official release date for the high-quality CDs and elegant LPs is set for the summer.
A deep feeling of home and the great mutual respect in the European jazz metropolises of the 1960s
The recordings capture a very special, almost magical atmosphere, because Copenhagen meant far more to the singer than a normal tour stop. She performed there regularly since the year 1952 and even owned her own cozy apartment in nearby Klampenborg. In Denmark, the musician found a high measure of respect and social freedom, just like many other Black jazz musicians of that moving era. This valuable recognition was unfortunately often denied to her in her American homeland due to the deep racial segregation. This palpable ease transports itself now through every single note of the gripping Copenhagen live recording. She acts visibly liberated on stage, since she does not perform for the commercial charts or quick royalties. She rather behaves like a person who feels visibly at home and completely secure in the Danish environment.
Musical genius with the legendary horn section of Duke Ellington and timeless classics in a fresh guise
While the famous Duke Ellington himself was absent from both concerts, the brilliant Jimmy Jones led the first-class ensemble from the piano. The first seven tracks of the album present the vocalist with the full, powerful instrumentation of the orchestra. Meanwhile, the last three songs consist of a more intimate afternoon set with the trio. A very special highlight of the record is the immortal classic „Mack the Knife“. She made this song her worldwide trademark in the year 1960 in Berlin through a grand improvisation after a spontaneous lyric slip. Six years later in Copenhagen, she shows with Gus Johnson on drums that she still masters the piece perfectly. The fact that the artist still possesses an enormous cultural relevance today is proven by the impressive five billion global streams on modern platforms. Especially on TikTok, the singer currently reaches a completely new generation of young music fans with over 80 million views.
Auf Einen Blick
- Historical Find: The label Gearbox Records releases previously completely unknown live recordings of jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald from the year 1966 on July 24.
- Special Place: The recordings were made at the Falkoner Centre in Copenhagen, where the artist even temporarily owned an apartment due to the local freedom.
- Great Accompaniment: The singer was accompanied at the legendary concerts by the first-class horn section of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and the Jimmy Jones Trio.
- Famous Hits: The album contains, among other tracks, a masterful live version of „Mack the Knife“ featuring the original Berlin drummer Gus Johnson.
- Timeless Relevance: With over five billion streams and a massive reach on TikTok, the 13-time Grammy winner still inspires millions of young people today.
