FITZGERALD, Ella.

Description

February 1968 German concert poster (Günther Kieser)

Original first printing concert poster designed to promote Ella Fitzgerald’s tour of Germany during February 1968, presented by Norman Granz in association with Lippmann+Rau. For the tour Fitzgerald was accompanied by the Tee Carson Trio, with Carson on piano, Keter Betts on bass and Joe Harris on drums. The late 1960s saw Fitzgerald’s recording career change greatly. After the sale of Verve records to MGM Records in 1961, Norman Granz continued to manage live performances, bookings and produce Ella Fitzgerald’s recordings for the label. Granz had semi-retired to Switzerland in 1960 and when Fitzgerald’s contract at Verve-MGM ended in 1967 he actively sought a new label. John Hammond of Columbia Records showed interest in signing Fitzgerald, as did Capitol Records and in September 1967 Granz signed Fitzgerald with Capitol Records. The four albums recorded at Capitol Records are the most diverse albums of Fitzgerald’s career. Brighten the Corner — a studio album produced by Dave Dexter Jr. was Ella’s debut on Capitol Records. The album peaked at #172 in the Billboard Hot 200 album charts, and marked a sharp change of direction for Fitzgerald, as Brighten the Corner saw Ella sing Christian hymns, reflecting her own spirituality, and eschewing the Great American Songbook standards on which she had previously concentrated. The concert at Berlin’s Deutschland Halle on 11th February, 1968, was filmed by German television and has since been uploaded to YouTube. The poster features spectacular artwork by graphic artist Günther Kieser.

The poster measures 42.2 x 59.2 cm and is printed on thin, uncoated paper stock. In excellent unfolded and unmarked condition. Feel free to email us with any questions you may have concerning this item. Additional images of the poster available on request.