Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Ella & Louis

After appearing together at an all-star concert the night before, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong went into an L.A. studio to record this gem of an album. Despite having little to no time for rehearsals, the sublime artistic mastery of Ella and Louis and the instant chemistry they achieved resulted in one of the few truly indispensable recordings in all of jazz. Verve's Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

"As with all the Acoustic Sounds releases I've reviewed here on Analog Planet thus far, this new production company is exemplary overall. The pressing is top-notch, manufactured on thick, dark black 180-gram vinyl that is quiet and well-centered. Overall, Ella's warm, melted-buttery voice makes for a tasty contrast when poured over Pops' more angular salty popcorn-crunch vocals. Add in Satch's rich round trumpet playing, and you've got the formula for a sweet sonic taste sensation." — Music = 10/11; Sound = 8/11 — Mark Smotroff, AnalogPlanet.com. 

"The classic jazz album that brought Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong together for the first time as they recorded their version of extraordinary standards." — Wax Time

The evening before Louis Armstrong recorded this album, both he and Miss Fitzgerald were appearing in an all-star concert also featuring Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson that was recorded for an album titled Live At The Hollywood Bowl (1956). The following day the two singers, along with the Oscar Peterson Trio, were in a Los Angeles studio to record this gem of an album.

With no time for rehearsals the songs were all set in Louis' key to make it easier, but this in no way inhibits Ella's performance. Another challenge for Pops was the fact that the material was not his normal repertoire, meaning he had to learn things on the fly in the studio. Again there's no hint of any issues, which all goes to highlight Armstrong's innate musical ability.