Mack the Knife: The Complete Ella in Berlin
A 43-year-old Ella rolls through her typical routine in feisty  fashion on this 1960 recording, which documents the opening show of her  European tour. There's the Satchmo impersonation (a joyous "Mack  the Knife"), the lengthy scat showcase ("How High the  Moon," on which she quotes Charlie Parker's  "Ornithology"), and a bevy of Gershwin and Porter tunes.  Supported by pianist Paul Smith's quartet (with the elegant Jim Hall on  guitar), Ella's voice sounds earthier than usual and her phrasing is as  appealing as ever. She's sublimely tender on "Misty" and  wonderfully sultry on "Too Darn Hot." The CD reissue includes  two unreleased tracks from the Berlin concert plus two 1956 gems  (including a stylish "Love for Sale") that were mistakenly  pressed on this release. Upon its initial release, the album picked up  two Grammies and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Pop chart; its  acclaim was well deserved.--Marc Greilsamer