I’m talkin’ 'bout jazz scat. Not an expert on it, nor can I do it, but I love, love, love it!
I just needed to post this vid of a 1969 Ella Fitzgerald performance that I’d never seen before. Wow. About halfway through the performance the band stops playing and she wows the audience. In my mind, the band (unseen) is behind her in silent worship: “We’re not worthy!” She’s really something.
I want more. Share your favorite scat. Of the musical variety, please.
I loves me some Ella! I never understood scat…always thought it was just meaningless gibberish. Then one day I really listened to the Lady do it, and I understood. She was several instruments at once.
Anita Baker has touched on some scat moments in some of her songs that lead me to believe the lady was definitely holding back. No Ella F. but then who else is.
One bit of trivia about the song: Ross wrote the lyrics, but she took the tune pretty much note by note from a saxophone solo by Wardell Grey (who is credited). The solo was never meant to be sung to, but she figured out how.
Thanks for the info. After seeing your link, I googled her and came up with this 1990 Fresh Air interview on NPR. She’s got a lovely speaking voice as well.
After clip of the song is played, she talks about the fact that she was not in therapy when she wrote that song. (Just me or is that question pretty lame?)
I dunno, I love Ella, but I guess I love her more when she’s slow and sentimental. See, I perceived the band (unseen) is behind her thinking, “shut the hell up you drunk bitch.” I even generally like scat but that performance annoyed me.