Zurich Jazz Orchestra ELLA feat. Brandy Butler

On the 25. April 2017 the American jazz songstress Ella Fitzgerald would have turned 100. With her inimitable, eternally youthful, voice, The «First Lady of Song» is recognised as the the ultimate jazz songstress. With 17 she won an amateur competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem and shortly thereafter was engaged by Chick Webb for his orchestra. With her positive radiance and musical abilities, in particular her Scat singing, she quickly acquired a large audience. We celebrate Ella's 100the birthday with a traditional program and a songstress who embodies Ella's music and fortunately has found a new home in Switzerland: Welcome, Brandy Butler! Brandy grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania (USA) and in 1997 moved to Philadelphia, where she studied music. She was highly interested in Jazz, which during her studies she initially considered to be «Instrumental music in a mens' domain». This changed rapidly when she discovered Ella Fitzgerald and songs such as «A-Tisket, A-Tasket», «Blue Skies» and «Flying Home». For me, Ella's music has something familiar, I also see many parallels when it comes to musical expression», says Brandy Butler. She was also inspired by Fitzgerald's joie de vivre and playful approach to music.