FITZGERALD, Ella + BASIE, Count.

Description

Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels October 1980 concert poster (Anon.)

Large original first printing concert poster advertising jazz giants Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels [Belgium] on Sunday, 19th October, 1980, presented by Norman Granz and Paul Ambach. On the tour, Fitzgerald was accompanied by pianist Jimmy Rowles, double bassist Keter Betts, and drummer Bobby Durham. Praised as an accompanist by female singers, Carmen McRae described Rowles as “the guy every girl singer in her right mind would like to work with”. In the 1950s and 1960s, he frequently played behind Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee. He first performed with Fitzgerald at the Mocambo nightclub in Hollywood in late 1956. He appeared on several recording sessions with her in the 1960s before joining her for nearly three years in 1979. Rowles appeared on Fitzgerald’s final collaboration with Nelson Riddle, The Best Is Yet to Come in 1982. His song “Baby, Don’t You Quit Now”, written with Johnny Mercer, was recorded on her final album All That Jazz, released in 1989. For Count Basie, his tour with Ella during October and November would be his last tour of continental Europe. He died in Hollywood, Florida on 26th April, 1984, at the age of 79.

The poster measures 99.9 x 69.6 cm (approx. 39.3 by 27.4 inches) and is printed in black ink on thin, coated paper stock (coated on front only). Small closed rip to the center of the top border and light sporadic creasing to the extremities, else in near excellent unfolded condition. Feel free to email us with any questions you may have concerning this item. Additional images of the poster available on request.