Ella Fitzgerald’s 1967 Oakland Coliseum concert, long-hidden in Verve Records founder Norman Granz’s archives, finally sees the light with ‘The Moment of Truth: Ella at the Coliseum’. This vinyl release captures the jazz icon at her vivacious peak, blending timeless standards with daring pop covers. Backed by Duke Ellington’s orchestra and a nimble piano trio, Fitzgerald delivers a masterclass in vocal agility and emotional resonance.
Recorded live on June 30, 1967, the album showcases Fitzgerald’s signature scatting brilliance on ‘Mack the Knife’ and playful reinvention of Cole Porter’s ‘Let’s Do It’, where she cheekily references Beatles mania and Hollywood’s power couple Burton-Taylor. A crowd member’s enthusiastic
“If you love her, clap!”punctuates the palpable energy of this historic night.
Highlights include her only known live renditions of two mid-1960s classics:
- Burt Bacharach’s ‘Alfie’, transformed into a soaring jazz ballad
- The swinging sophistication of ‘Music to Watch Girls By’
Critic Will Friedwald’s liner notes reveal how these pop experiments defied Fitzgerald’s usual repertoire. Yet her technical mastery shines brightest in the blues-tinged ‘You’ve Changed’, where cascading phrases dissolve into vulnerable whispers.
The Ellington collaboration proves particularly revelatory. While the maestro himself doesn’t perform, his orchestra’s understated brass accents on ‘Don’t Be That Way’ create a velvet backdrop for Fitzgerald’s improvisations. Meanwhile, the trio-led ‘The Moment of Truth’ spotlights her ability to elevate Tony Bennett’s pop tune into high art.
This release isn’t merely archival—it’s a seismic event for jazz historians and casual listeners alike. The crystal-clear audio quality transports listeners to the Coliseum’s concrete curves, where Fitzgerald’s voice ricochets with pinball precision. From Louis Armstrong impersonations to flirtatious audience banter, every moment confirms why she remains the First Lady of Song.
