Chopin: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8; Schumann: Piano Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110 CD

Chopin: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8; Schumann: Piano Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110 Verve originally released Ella Fitzgerald's Twelve Nights in Hollywood, drawn from performances at the Crescendo nightclub in 1961 and 1962, as a four-CD set in 2009. Now, the collection has been repackaged as two two-CD sets. On the third and fourth discs, Fitzgerald reveals herself as an engaged performer with a strong sense of communication with her audience. She takes requests, whether she can remember the lyrics or not. (It doesn't matter, since she can improvise good words or just scat.) She introduces ringside celebrities including Walter Winchell and Carl Reiner. When she spots songwriter Mack David, she spontaneously decides to perform his song "Candy," noting, "I hope I don't mess it up. That's the only ones that sell these days." She is thinking of her recent Top 40 hit version of "Mack the Knife," on which she went up on the words to delightful effect. "You're Driving Me Crazy" has an appropriately crazy arrangement, with tempo shifts galore, while "How High the Moon" typically serves as a platform for the album's most ambitious scatting. She borrows from Billie Holiday's repertoire for "Good Morning Heartache," providing a good example of the contrast in their styles; in Fitzgerald's reading, there isn't much heartache, but it's a powerful musical performance. Toward the end, she takes up the then-current fad for twisting before finishing with two versions of "Bill Bailey," in which she sings impressions of Sophie Tucker, Della Reese, Pearl Bailey, Louis Armstrong, and Dinah Washington. In other words, these shows are anything but formal jazz sessions. Rather, they represent an entertainer dedicated to entertaining by any means at hand, who also happens to have the best vocal jazz chops in the business. ~ William Ruhlmann Recording information: 1961.

Chopin: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8; Schumann: Piano Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110 Recording information: Concert Hall, Wyastone Estate, Monmouth (12/05/2009-12/08/2009).

Chopin: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8; Schumann: Piano Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110 Photographer: Danielle Baquet-Long. Track Listing of songs: An Imaginary Tale of Lost Vernacular; Waiting Until Something Else Happens; Street of a Rainy, Gray Day, The; A Renewed Awareness of Home;

Chopin: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8; Schumann: Piano Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110 Track Listing of songs: Le nozze di Figaro; Le nozze di Figaro; Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527: Schmäle, tobe, lieber Junge; Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527: Wenn du fein fromm bist; Le nozze di Figaro; Mignon, opera in 3 acts: Ihr Schwalben in den Lüften; Königskinder, opera: Ach, bin ich allein; Königskinder, opera: Bin ein lustiger Jägersmann; Königskinder, opera: Sieh her, ob mir Hunger die Glieder entziert; La Traviata, opera: Un di felice, eterea; La Traviata, opera: Parigi, o cara; Carmen, opera: Parlons de toi, la messagère; La bohème, opera: O soave fanciulla; Pagliacci, opera: Stridono lassù; Madama Butterfly; Madama Butterfly; Madama Butterfly; Die Zauberflöte; Ernani, opera: Ernani, rette mich; Il Trovatore, opera: In deines Kerkers tiefe Nacht; Aida, opera: O Vaterland, ich seh dich nimmerdar;

Chopin: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8; Schumann: Piano Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110  

Chopin: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8; Schumann: Piano Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110 Track Listing of songs: Joyce's 71st NY Reg't; Trombone Family: Teddy Trombone; Northwind; Radio Waves; Circusdom; Yankees in Vienna; Symphonia; Barnum; Crimson Plume; Yankee Robinson; Old Circus Band; Salute to the Sultan; Stop It!; Hagenbeck-Wallace Grand Entry; Mediterranean;

Chopin: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8; Schumann: Piano Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110  

Chopin: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8; Schumann: Piano Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110 Track Listing of songs: Glagolitic Mass: I. Intro; Glagolitic Mass: II. Kyrie; Glagolitic Mass: III. Gloria; Glagolitic Mass: IV. Credo; Glagolitic Mass: V. Sanctus; Glagolitic Mass: VI. Agnus Dei; Glagolitic Mass: VII. Org Solo; Glagolitic Mass: VIII. Intrada; Taras Bulba, Rhap: I. The Death Of Andri; Taras Bulba, Rhap: II. The Death Of Ostap; Taras Bulba, Rhap: III. Prophecy And Death Of Taras Bulba;