Rating:
Genre:
Vocal Music
Release Date: 08/19/2008
Jazz and even vocal music can be a tough nut to crack for younger listeners, but
Ella Fitzgerald's irrepressible enthusiasm and constant musicality make her a natural for children's listening. Accordingly,
Universal packaged 11 of her lightest novelties into the brief
Miss Ella's Playhouse, pitched to ages one to four and billed as "Kid, Parent & Earth Friendly." Leading off with the 1938 nursery rhyme hit
"A-Tisket, A-Tasket," the disc makes a fair introduction for children to
Ella specifically and great vocal jazz in general (regardless of the argument that children could appreciate her "serious" music without this set of dumbed-down material). The disc is divided between early
Decca material of the nursery rhyme variety (
"The Muffin Man," "Old Mother Hubbard") and peak-era
Verve novelties like
"Bean Bag Song," "Two Little Men and a Flying Saucer," and
"The Hot Canary." Fans of the Great American Songbook may not be able to handle this type of material, but
Ella Fitzgerald makes it all shine with a twinkle in her eyes, even when she's recording
"Old McDonald" in 1966, nearing her half-century mark.
~John Bush, All Music Guide