Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Ella And Louis (Verve Essential Vinyl Series)

Two of the warmest voices in jazz meet in perfect harmony on Ella And Louis, the 1956 Verve classic, reissued here in the Verve Essential Vinyl Series.

Producer Norman Granz had a gift for inspired pairings, and few were better than this one. Ella Fitzgerald brought her flawless intonation and effortless swing, while Louis Armstrong offered his gravelly charm and that unmistakable trumpet. Backing them is a dream rhythm section, with Oscar Peterson on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass and Buddy Rich on drums. The chemistry was so natural that the two singers reunited for more albums soon after.

The programme is a sumptuous run through the Great American Songbook. "Can't We Be Friends?" opens with gentle, conversational playfulness, and "Moonlight In Vermont" floats by in a gentle, unhurried hush. "They Can't Take That Away From Me" is pure joy, the two trading lines like old friends sharing a joke, while "Cheek To Cheek" swings with relaxed sophistication.

Nothing here feels rushed or forced, just two masters enjoying each other's company. On vinyl, these intimate performances glow, an ideal record for quiet evenings at home and a beautiful, welcoming entry point into the world of vocal jazz.