Date:         Tue, 8 Jul 2008 08:50:58 -0400
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
              <[log in to unmask]>
Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
              <[log in to unmask]>
From:         Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Sinatra & Ella: The King and the Queen.
Comments: To: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252";
              reply-type=original

One man's opinion here -- Norman Granz never gets the credit he deserves. I think there were some 
animosities with the self-appointed "experts" and "critics" back in the Verve days, and that might 
have something to do with it. He also didn't write an autobiography (at least that I know of), 
unfortunately. This guy built three distinct and great catalogs of jazz -- 1) the Jazz at the 
Philharmonic live recordings, and the related in-studio jam sessions (first released through Mercury 
and then through Norgran/Verve), 2) the excellent Verve studio recordings of the 50's that continued 
even after Granz sold the label to MGM, 3) and then, out of retirement, the Pablo catalog, which has 
some weak spots but also proves the amazing longevity of some of the jazz greats.

There was a biography of Granz in the works but it was pulled from publication for some reason a 
couple of years ago and seems to be a not-for-soon-release project.

Granz was of course Ella's long-time manager, so in his universe she was the central star. The fact 
that we are discussing her legend and legacy today is partly due to the excellent promotion and 
advise she got from Norman Granz.

Very worthwhile listening are the multi CD sets covering the complete JATP recordings, the complete 
Norman Granz Jam Session recordings and the 4-CD "The Verve Story."

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Cox" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 8:03 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Sinatra & Ella: The King and the Queen.


> On 07/07/08, Aaron Levinson wrote:
>> That's so great to hear Bob. I'm not surprised of course just happy
>> that she was acknowledged as such. I think it is important to note as
>> well that she was really the first person to do the "songbook" of a
>> particular composer or team.
>
> We have Norman Granz to thank for that idea - and for a great many
> other outstanding recordings.
>
>> When you got the Ella treatment you knew
>> that at least you're finest work was being immortalized by the zenith
>> of popular singers. Of course, everyone knows her version of Tisket a
>> Tasket which brought her into the spotlight and the duets with Pops
>> which are a special delight all their own but if I may single out a
>> performance that I believe is among the 5 or 10 greatest in the
>> history of recorded sound I urge people to listen to her version of
>> "Miss Otis Regrets". It is certainly not her most famous song but if
>> you are not moved by this extraordinary bit of magic you are simply
>> not alive.
>>
>
>
>
> Regards
> -- 
> Don Cox
> [log in to unmask]
>