"ELLA is my all-time favorite singer in all catagories"

Do you know how difficult it is to choose the best album ever, or outstanding tracks on "The Best of Ella Fitzgerald-20th Century Masters:The Millennium Collection", from the mid-thirties as we take a listeners journey through twelve tunes into the mid-sixties. What is so nice about this collection is "DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME", recorded in August of 1950 featuring a beautiful duo with the man who started it all Louis Armstrong. It can't get any better as each artist plays off the other, has never been duplicated to this very day. Ella's recordings could fill an entire library, her performance is flawless each tune is more satisfying than the previous one. Take for instance "BUT NOT FOR ME", a treasured Gershwin standard with a milestone rendition from "Ella Sings Gershwin" album from the '50s. As she can change tempos on a dime with "UNDECIDED", with Chick Webb & His Orchestra one of many hits from the '30s.

Ella's style is so timeless as you're instantly amazed by her voice. There are more complete collections than this one, but this is a great introduction to her career which include collaborations with Chick Webb, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billy May, Nelson Riddle and Sy Oliver ~ each cue takes on a delightful bit of improvisation, blending a vibrant expressive of, don't take yourself too seriously attitude.

Evidently Norman Granz, her manager knew a good thing when he took her under his wing...even though a contract was never signed between them, love and respect was there right from the beginning. If you only purchase one album by the "First Lady of Song", this collection is a keeper!

Total Time: 44:05 on 12 Tracks ~ Hip-O Records 440-069-886-2 ~ (1/28/2003)