In times of upheaval, I lean on touchstones–works of art that have shaped me and the continue to be sources of inspiration, influence, and solace. It might be rereading a favorite novel, a cherished poem, a movie, or (especially often) a favorite album with a good pair of headphones.
No album puts me in a happier mood than Ella and Louis Again. The 1957 followup to Ella and Louis, this is the second of three collaborations between Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. (The third is 1958’s studio version of the Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess).
Ella and Louis Again is my favorite, and a touchstone, for several reasons. First, it was the one I had first, so my formative listening was shaped by its specific tracks. Second, the album finds them relaxed, in familiar ground. They’ve done this before and are perfectly comfortable with the process. The same goes for the band, led by the great Oscar Peterson and including Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Louie Bellson on drums (this was Peterson’s classic trio, plus Bellson). In short, everyone is in it to have fun and the record is loose, always swinging deeply, and definitely fun.
Third, any album that includes the iconic version of Stomping at the Savoy would be legendary. The scatting, the trumpet playing, the extra choruses at the end, the improvised fun and jokey feeling…this track has it all.
Go to school on this amazing album, and more likely than not it will become a touchstone for you, too. This is what standards should sound like when interpreted in the classic way.
Touchstones is an ongoing series of posts I’ll be writing during the COVID-19 season, reflecting on the works of art that support me in times of upheaval. I encourage you to make a list of your own “touchstones” and if you like, share them with me to publish here.