1.5 I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night/In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
1.6 Cheek to Cheek
1.7 Mr. Paganini
1.8 Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
1.9 Fly Me to the Moon
1.10 Undecided
Description:
"Ella" is an expressive CD release by vocalist April Varner on the renowned jazz label Cellar Live. Centered around the timeless songbook associated with Ella Fitzgerald, this album captures the warmth, swing, and emotional nuance of classic vocal jazz while presenting it with a fresh, contemporary sensibility. Varner's clear, flexible voice moves effortlessly from intimate ballads to agile scat passages and up-tempo swing numbers, honoring Ella's legacy without resorting to imitation. The arrangements showcase a finely tuned ensemble that supports the vocals with subtlety, vibrant solos, and a rich acoustic sound typical of high-quality modern jazz productions. Listeners can expect a well-curated selection of pieces connected to Ella's repertoire, with attention to melodic clarity, lyrical storytelling, and rhythmic drive, resulting in a CD that will appeal both to long-time jazz aficionados and to new listeners discovering this tradition.
April Varner is a rising jazz vocalist distinguished by her precise intonation, strong sense of swing, and deep connection to the Great American Songbook. She combines classical vocal training with a strong jazz background, which allows her to move confidently between lyrical, almost chamber-like moments and more exuberant, improvisatory passages. In the jazz scene she has attracted attention through her interpretations of standards and her nuanced phrasing, positioning herself as an artist who both respects the tradition and adds her own voice to it. Her performances reflect a mature musicality that belies her age, highlighting her as one of the promising new voices in vocal jazz.
Cellar Live is a respected independent jazz label known for its commitment to authentic, acoustic jazz recordings and for supporting both established and emerging artists on the international scene. The label has built a reputation for capturing the intimacy and energy of club performances while maintaining audiophile production values. Releases on Cellar Live are often characterized by careful sound engineering, honest, uncompressed dynamics, and a focus on organic interplay between musicians. By collaborating closely with artists and documenting them at key stages in their development, Cellar Live has become a trusted name for listeners seeking high-quality jazz recordings that preserve the spirit of the music without unnecessary studio gloss. "Ella" fits squarely into this philosophy, offering a production that is both artistically focused and sonically refined.
Swing
12.256
- Bigband Swing 173- Dixieland(Revival) 25- Oldtime Jazz 141- Other Swing 11.799- Ragtime 12- Swing Combos 106
