Ella Swings Gently with Nelson is a 1962 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with an orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. This album is one of a pair, the other being Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson, that were released in 1962.

Review

In 1961, Ella Fitzgerald recorded two albums with Nelson Riddle's Orchestra. Her voice was in peak form and she was surrounded with the elegant arrangements of Nelson Riddle. The Nelson Riddle Orchestra was filled with the creme de la creme of Hollywood studio musicians of the era. Most were veterans of the top big bands of the 1940s and 1950s such as Conrad Gozzo on lead trumpet, Harry Edison playing solo trumpet, George Roberts on bass trombone. "All of Me" was from a different obscure sampler and "Call Me Darling" was previously unissued. Although the accent is on ballads, several of the songs are taken at medium tempos and she swings throughout. Highlights include "Georgia on My Mind", "The Very Thought of You", "It's a Pity to Say Goodnight", "Darn That Dream", "Body and Soul", and a cooking "All of Me".

Track listing

For the 1962 Verve LP album, Verve MG V-4055 Side One: Side Two: Bonus Tracks; Issued on the 1993 Verve CD re-issue, Verve 519 348-2 14. "Call Me Darling" (Dorothy Dick, Mort Fryberg, Rolf Marbet, Bert Reisfeld) – 3:41 15. "All of Me" (Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons) – 3:22

Personnel