Musical history was made in 1956 when Verve Records honcho Norman Granz convinced  Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong to record together. They cut 47 tracks and released 3 albums: Ella and Louis, Ella and Louis Again, and Porgy & Bess.

On the first two records these giants of jazz were accompanied by Oscar Peterson on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass with Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson splitting the drum duties. Have I told you lately how much I love Oscar Peterson? He’s one reason the Ella and Louis collaboration worked so well.

My mom had the first Ella & Louis album. I didn’t spin many of her discs, but I played that one. As a bad amateur pianist, I was as enchanted by Oscar Peterson’s effortless brilliance as with Ella and Louis’ sublime vocals. I fell for OP then.

Have I told you lately how much I love Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong?

I’m organizing the dozen by songwriters. We’ll start with the one-offs, then move on to some of the big guns of the great American songbook.

We begin with a ballad written by Walter Gross and Jack Lawrence. It features some soulful trumpeting by Pops:

Our second song is in the form of a question. Is it jazz or Jeopardy? Discuss amongst yourselves.

One thing’s for sure: Gee, Baby, Ain’t I Good To You was written in 1929 by Don Redman and Andy Razaff.

Jazz and blues are kissing cousins as illustrated by this tune written by Dolores Silver:

Let’s move on to some heavy hitters with two tunes co-written by the King of Swing, Benny Goodman.

Things are warming up as we turn to an Irving Berlin pair. I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm is considered a Christmas song by many. It’s certainly wintry.

Our second Berlin classic was written for the Astaire-Rogers movie, Follow The Fleet. The eggy title notwithstanding, it’s not about Easter, at least I think it’s not. But I’m not eggs-actly sure.

Jerome Kern was the favorite composer of many jazz artists. He was an instinctive jazz composer whose music was sophisticated and even syncopated.

Louis improvises some lyrics on A Fine Romance about “two old fogies who need crutches.” Cut yourself some slack, man: Louis was 57 and Ella was a spring chicken at the age of 40 back then.

Who among us doesn’t love the music of George and Ira Gershwin? I give you 3 of their timeless tunes including Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off, which is a staple of my writing repertoire. Let’s do the Ira Gershwin shuffle with Ella and Louis.

Finally, a number from Porgy & Bess.

That concludes the Ella & Louis Dozen.

What would an Adrastos listicle be without some lagniappe? I give you the Overture To Porgy & Bess, arranged and conducted by Russell Garcia.

Since this Irving Berlin tune features so prominently in the video images, let’s dance together to this cheeky animated video.