April Varner mixes elements from Ella Fitzgerald's style with her own creative imagination on this tribute album to her long time idol.

In 2023, NYC based vocalist April Varner won the International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition, an experience which deepened her love for the First Lady of Song. This tribute project further illuminates her appreciation of Ella's artistry. On her latest album for Cellar Music, April never imitates her long-time idol. Instead, she captures the spirit of Ella, and mixes elements from Ella's style with her own creative imagination. 'Ella' features an incredible line up of April's favourite musicians : Emmet Cohen on piano and as an arranger, William Hill III on piano, Yasushi Nakamura on bass, Ulysses Owens Jr. on drums and production, Brian Lynch on trumpet and as an arranger, Nathaniel Williford and Michael Cruse on trumpets, Jeffrey Miller and Jacob Melsha on trombones, Cleave Guyton and Mark Gross playing saxophone.

Track Listing

• A-Tisket, A-Tasket
• I’ve Got You Under My Skin
• Dream a Little Dream of Me
• Night and Day
• I Couldn’t Sleep a Wink Last Night / In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
• Cheek to Cheek
• Mr. Paganini
• Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
• Fly Me To The Moon
• Undecided

Additional Details

Label: Cellar live

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 39:40 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 03/20/26

UPC: 628308831388