Ella Fitzgerald's career extended from 1930 to 1980. Although her 80's recordings have been criticized for her loss of vocal range, the musicality of her delivery is everpresent. Her recordings are thankfully preserved and the listener can experience the maturation of an artist as she develops her instrument. The early recordings seem to play off her girlish childlike voice. Her first hit "A-Tisket,A-Tasket" indeed seems perfectly designed for a girlish voice. That quality of voice never seemed to leave her even to her mature years. The spirit that came across in her performance especially later was of a playful singer on stage and in command of her element. In the first recordings there is a feeling of young nervousness (who can blame a 16 year old on stage in front of a Big Band), and it seems to add genuine charm. These early recordings are also a great introduction to the way canaries were presented in front of Big Bands and the orchestrations within which most were expected to operate.
--Ismael Rangel