Ella Fitzgerald - Ella in Hamburg (CD)

All Music Guide

Ella Fitzgerald and the Tommy Flanagan Trio (the pianist is joined by bassist Keter Betts and drummer Gus Johnson) are in top form during this engaging 1965 concert in Hamburg, Germany; after being out of print for decades it finally was reissued on CD in Japan. She's at her best singing classic material such as the uptempo "That Old Black Magic" and a strutting take of "And the Angels Sing" (not a song one typically associates with Ella). She also is very effective on ballads such as "Body and Soul," "Here's That Rainy Day," and "Angel Eyes." Even though liner note writer implies that the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" is a great jazz vehicle, it is actually a resounding dud, as was often the case when the singer ventured into covering rock hits of the 1960s and 1970s. But an occasional misfire should not dissuade anyone from acquiring this CD, as Ella Fitzgerald is in great voice throughout the performance, and Tommy Flanagan's accompaniment is matchless.

- Ken Dryden, All Music Guide