Record of the day: Ella Fitzgerald, “Ella wishes you…”

Ella Fitzgerald, “Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas” (Cd Verve 827102)

Best wishes to everyone! Today’s album can only be this, one of the most swinging albums of all time, packaged for you in a colorful gift package by the divine Ella Fitzgerald in 1960 together with the arrangements of Frank DeVol’s big band.

When this album came out it represented something new because until then the albums of Christmas songs made by Dean Martin, Bing Crosby etc. tended to underline the romantic side of being with family, through soft arrangements that conveyed the atmosphere of typical solemnity well. of these holidays. Fitzgerald couldn’t care less about all this schmaltz, and right from the first piece (an irrepressible version of “Jingle Bells”) she presses on the accelerator of swing without letting up for a single moment.

Cheerful, wild songs, supported by excellent arrangements revisit the traditional Christmas songbook; “Winter Wonderland,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (arranged with a delightful boogie-shuffle), “Let It Snow!” and “Frosty the Snowman” appear beautifully dressed up for the occasion, bursting with continuous sparks of energy that will have you smiling and hopping around the room after a few minutes (unless you’re really depressed the effect is guaranteed!)

The only moments where Tornado Ella seems to quiet down are the versions of “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” (with a beautiful arrangement whose richly harmonized passages sound like a curious cross between the styles of Duke Ellington and that of Gil Evans) and “The Christmas Song”, but no sooner does she have time to catch her breath than Ella rushes back onto the dance floor snow with their heads down, managing to make even a ditty like “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer” pleasant and giving us a very pleasant stylistic digression in “Good Morning Blues”, which seems to veer towards New Orleans rather than towards Bethlehem.

Unfortunately, the cover is stingy with information and does not list the names of the excellent soloists who appear on the various tracks, but judging by the perfection of the performance and the quality of the solos, they must be the cream of New York musicians. All you have to do is open the presents and turn on the tree lights to the sound of the cover of “White Christmas” which closes this fabulous album.

Carlo Boccadoro, composer and conductor, was born in Macerata in 1963. He lives and works in Milan. He collaborates with soloists and orchestras in different parts of the world. He is the author of numerous books on musical topics.

This text is taken from “Lunario della musica: A record for every day of the year” published by Einaudi, courtesy of the author and the publisher.