Clive Myrie's Amazing Women of Jazz

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Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

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Radio 2 Celebrates Jazz: Clive Myrie's Amazing Women of Jazz - Ella Fitzgerald

Clive Myrie's Amazing Women of Jazz - Ella Fitzgerald

BBC Radio 2 - Radio 2 Celebrates Jazz, Clive Myrie's Amazing Women of Jazz - Ella Fitzgerald

Clive Myrie celebrates the life and work of 3 jazz icons. This time Ella Fitzgerald.

News presenter, Mastermind host and jazz fan Clive Myrie celebrates the work of three of his favourite women of jazz. First up, the undisputed 'Queen of Jazz' Ella Fitzgerald.

In the first part of this three part series celebrating amazing women of jazz, Clive Myrie hears about Ella Fitzgerald's rags to riches success – singing on the streets of Harlem before being plucked from obscurity in a talent contest in 1934. 

He reflects on the racism she faced throughout her life and how she rarely talked about it. We hear about the private, shy Ella who didn't find lasting love in her personal life, but who is still revered the world over for her powerful performances on stage. 

Contributors include singers Mica Paris and Dana Masters, Ella's drummer Gregg Field, composer David Amram and film composer John Altman whose friend Benny Carter was widely credited with discovering Ella nearly 90 years ago. The show remembers how she made scat singing her own as well as her many duets with fellow icons such as Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.

Ella was often dubbed the 'Queen of Jazz', 'Lady Ella'  and 'The First Lady of Song' and in this programme, Clive looks at her contribution to the jazz standards and making 'The Great American Songbook' very much her own.  

Ella can also be credited with helping to introduce younger generations to jazz for the first time.

Clive examines her legacy and delivers his verdict on some of her great numbers from across the decades.

Clive Myrie's Amazing Women of Jazz is produced by Ashley Byrne
The Executive Producer is Kurt Brookes
A Made in Manchester Production for BBC Radio 2

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