With a big smile, looking extremely physically fit and sheathed in a sparkling black sequined gown, jazz singer Freda Payne took the stage at Feinstein’s Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald.  In this continuing tribute, Freda embodies the sound, intonations and spirit of the great lady.  The audience is treated to a well constructed storyline of Ella from childhood through her illustrious career. Can we picture Ella, the teenager, dancing on street corners for money saying "I wanna be a dancer"(she had a  partner named Snake Hips Turner), auditioning and winning an amateur contest at the Apollo, someone in the audience yelling out "Hey, do something," (because there was too much quiet time on stage) and Ella singing "The Object of My Affection."

Freda, the ultimate professional, sings the great Ella songs, scats the scat and moves skillfully thru the vocal machinations, engaging her audience so we joyously relive the intricate subtleties that distinguished Ella’s greatness.

From "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" (Fitzgerald/Feldman) "Mr. Paganini"(Coslow, ‘St. Louis Blues" (W.C. Handy) and ho-down, low-down "The Lady Is A Tramp" (Rodgers/Hart); from the poignant "My Buddy"(Donaldson/Kahn) which Ella sang at Chick Corea’s funeral when he died at age 30, to "Mack the Knife" (Weill/Brecht/Blitzstein), we’re reminded over and over again why Ella was one of a kind. Perched on a stool, tucked into the crook of the piano, Freda gives a noted rendition of "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" (Wolf/Landesman). Cole Porter’s "Too Darn Hot" and its distinctive bridge lyric update by Ella in her 1956 Cole Porter Songbook Album—a great mixture of Latin-Swing rhythm. And, boy, can Freda swing and move! 

"How High The Moon" (Lewis/Hamilton), with that higher than high note ending, was best known for the 1951 Les Paul & Mary Ford recording, but became Ella’s signature tune when she first recorded it on Decca in 1947 (backed by The Daydreamers). The 1960 Ella in Berlin rendition is her most celebrated and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.

Stepping out of Ella mode, we get to know a little bit about Freda Payne as she reprises her top of the chart hit "Band of Gold." Would love to get to know Ms. Payne —perhaps another show?  Audience notables included Julie Wilson, Carol Woods, Rita MacKenzie and Christine Pedi.

Backed by the celebrated Frank Owens as Musical Director/Piano, Wilbur Bascomb on Bass, Buddy Williams on Drums and Bill Easley on Reeds, the show is a delightful evening of musical nostalgia that so many of us crave. It continues thru March 2^nd.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
February 26, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org