The Jazz Museum in Harlem All Stars, featuring vocalist Delores King-Williams, presented a concert tribute to America’s First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald, on Thursday, May 18th at Nubian Heritage, a splendid Harlem space on Fifth Avenue at 126th Street. Museum Executive Director Loren Schoenberg led the 8-piece ensemble from piano, laying down rich chords that spurred Williams and fellow band mates to swinging bliss. The song selection reflected some of Fitzgerald’s well-known hits and several of the lesser performed masterpieces she recorded.

Juilliard graduate Chris Madsen masterfully scaled down the original arrangements that the legendary Nelson Riddle wrote for large ensemble accompaniment of Ms. Fitzgerald’s classic Song Book recordings. Ms. Williams brought her own sass and entertainment style to the proceedings, and the standing-room only audience loved her interpretations of songs such as “Fever” (with walking and talking bass by former Harlem Speaks guest Larry Ridley), “A Ship Without a Sail” and “Mr. Paganini.”

Although the gorgeous Ms. Williams looked much the diva, in a quite un-diva like fashion she made way for several ballad features which put the improvisational talents of band members front and center.

After intermission, in which audience members milled about the bookstore/café lounge on Nubian Heritage’s main floor, Schoenberg, Ridley, and another previous guest of Harlem Speaks, writer Herb Boyd, shared their memories of Ella. Her collaboration with bassist Ray Brown at Jazz at the Philharmonic inspired Ridley to dedicate his life to jazz; Schoenberg recalled her easy grace during rehearsals at Radio City Music Hall for her last performance there; and Boyd regretted not snagging an interview with the very private legend, but urged the audience to check out Stuart Nicholson’s biography of the first lady of American song, who crossed over a decade ago.

This free concert was made possible through the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, which also provides funding for the Harmony in Harlem Youth Band. In addition, support for this music program comes from the Music Performance Fund, enriching lives through music by sponsoring free, live performances in all 50 states and Canada. For more information, visit MPF's Website at www.MusicPF.org.