1956 · Album
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book
Recorded 1956 · Verve Records · Produced by Norman Granz
When Ella Met Rodgers and Hart
Ella proves she can inhabit these songs completely, making them feel newly written just for her voice.
This album sits right at the peak of Ella's powers, when her voice had the flexibility to handle anything thrown at it. The Rodgers and Hart catalog is tricky material—these songs are deceptively simple, which means every note matters and there's nowhere to hide. Ella doesn't hide. Instead, she leans into the wit and romance of these tunes with absolute confidence, treating them less like standards to preserve and more like personal stories she's living in real time.
What makes this different from other Ella albums is how intimate it feels despite the lush orchestral arrangements. On tracks like "Have You Met Miss Jones?" and "My Funny Valentine," you hear her playing with the lyrics, bending them slightly, finding new meanings in familiar phrases. The arrangements give her room to breathe but don't overwhelm what she's doing. These aren't just beautiful interpretations—they're conversations between Ella and the song, and you're invited to listen in.
If you're new to Ella, this is a perfect entry point because it shows off everything she did well: impeccable phrasing, genuine warmth, technical precision that never calls attention to itself. The album captures her at a moment when she'd mastered the art of making complicated music sound effortless. These are the kinds of recordings that reveal themselves more with each listen, not because they're mysterious, but because there's simply so much good taste packed into every second.
Who's playing
Joe Mondragonbass
Chuck Gentrybass clarinet
George Robertsbass trombone
Paul Smithpiano
Barney Kesselguitar
Bud Shankalto saxophone
Maurice Steinalto saxophone
Ray Linntrumpet
Pete Candolitrumpet
Maynard Fergusontrumpet
Conrad Gozzotrumpet
Milt Bernharttrombone
Joe Howardtrombone
Lloyd Ulyatetrombone
Ted Nashflute
Jules Kinslerflute
Alvin Stollerdrums
[unknown]viola
Bob Coopercor anglais
Vincent DeRosaFrench horn
Corky Haleharp
Robert La Marchinacello
Edgar Lustgartencello
Arnold Koblentzoboe
Abe Mostclarinet
Where next?
More by Ella Fitzgerald
Wishes You a Swinging Christmas 1960
Ella and Louis 1956
Ella And Louis Again 1957
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book 1957
The musicians on this record
Barney Kessel, Volume 3: "To Swing or Not to Swing" 1955
Barney Kessel
plays guitar here
plays guitar here
♫
Shifting Winds 1955
Bob Cooper
plays cor anglais here
plays cor anglais here
