PURE PLEASURE Newport Jazz Festival Live at Carnegie Hall [VINYL]

(2-LP set) Recorded toward the end of Ella's career, by concert's end it is apparent that she has about lost her voice, but not the audience's adoration. The album showcases her in various settings: with the (obviously) reconstituted Chick Webb Orchestra, with Ellis Larkins, with Joe Pass and with Tommy Flanagan (of course); the album also has some nods to the Webb Orchestra, noteworthy for late-career blowing by "Lockjaw" Davis. Highlights: "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "Good Morning Heartache" (an intended and most worthy tribute to Lady Day), "Miss Otis Regrets," the first encore of "Some of these Days," and intended set-ender of Ella doing what she does best, scatting through "Lemon Drop." 1973 release.