There are few things music geeks love more than an unearthed, previously unknown recording, and that’s exactly what’s in store for fans of iconic jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. On Feb. 28, an album of a previously unreleased 1967 concert titled “The Moment of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum,” will be coming on Verve Records, taken from a recording of a show recorded at the Oakland Coliseum on June 30, 1967, that was recently unearthed in the private tape collection of Verve Records founder Norman Granz.
The recordings were mixed and mastered from the original analog multitrack tapes, resulting in, according to the announcement, “pristine high-fidelity audio typically unheard of for a live concert recording of that era.” Listen for yourself to the advance single here:
The album spans nine tracks, most never heard before, and features Fitzgerald accompanied by members of The Duke Ellington Orchestra.
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Photo: Tom Copi
In the summer of 1967, Fitzgerald was in the midst of her three-year tour run and recording collaboration with Ellington, and was incorporating hit pop songs of the late ‘60s into her concert repertoire — two of which are presented for the first time on record on the album; “Alfie” and “Music To Watch Girls By.”
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH: ELLA AT THE COLISEUM
1. The Moment Of Truth – 2:52
2. Don’t Be That Way – 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