Dear Ella

Released in 1997, Dear Ella stands as one of the most significant vocal jazz recordings of the decade, earning Dee Dee Bridgewater the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album. The project was a deliberate tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, featuring arrangements by jazz legends like Slide Hampton and Cecil Bridgewater. Sonically, the album is defined by its 'Big Band' scale, utilizing a full orchestra to recreate the grandeur of Fitzgerald's peak years while injecting a contemporary 1990s clarity and soul-jazz sensibility. Bridgewater’s performance is notable for its 'R&B-ish stylings' - a departure from the purist bop approach - which adds a modern grit to tracks like 'Mack the Knife'. The inclusion of both English and German versions of the 'Threepenny Opera' classic highlights Bridgewater's theatrical range. It remains a definitive example of how to execute a tribute album by maintaining personal artistic identity while honoring a predecessor.