The Moment Of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum (Oakland CA / June 30 1967)

Ella Fitzgerald virtually invented the live album and, appropriately, there are more concert recordings of her that have been both officially and unofficially released than practically any other artist, ever—major or minor, male or female, jazz or whatever. And with good reason: every time a new Ella concert tape is unearthed, she never disappoints. There was never a moment when she was not doing her absolute best work and she never seems to have experienced what other performers would consider “an off night.” In a sense, for Ella Fitzgerald, every night was The Moment of Truth.

This previously unknown concert from the summer of 1967 finds Ella Fitzgerald in a particularly interesting place. The tapes were recently unearthed in the private collection of Verve Records founder Norman Granz.

Tracklist:

A1. The Moment Of Truth - 2:52
A2. Don’t Be That Way - 4:33
A3. You’ve Changed - 4:37
A4. Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love) - 4:43
A5. Bye Bye Blackbird - 5:02

B1. Alfie - 5:43 
B2. In A Mellow Tone - 4:41 
B3. Music To Watch Girls By - 3:56
B4. Mack The Knife  - 4:53

Recorded at The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA on June 30, 1967

Ella Fitzgerald – vocals

The Trio:

Jimmy Jones – piano
Bob Cranshaw – bass
Sam Woodyard – drums

Members of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra:

Trumpets: Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams
Trombones: Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors, Buster Cooper
Reeds: Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope