Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald
by Nelson Riddle
Big Band - Sheet Music

Jazz big band - Medium

SKU: JL.JLP-9463

Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald. Edited by Rob DuBoff and Jeffrey Sultanof. Arranged by Nelson Riddle. Swing. Score and parts. Published by Jazz Lines Publications (JL.JLP-9463).

This is one of a series of arrangements written by Nelson Riddle for Ella Fitzgerald focusing on the Gershwin songbook. These arrangements constitute some of the most famous settings of classic songs for one of the greatest vocalists in American music. 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook' was the high point in the series of songbook packages produced by Norman Granz for the Verve label. There had been four such projects beforehand: boxes of songs by Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Duke Ellington and Irving Berlin preceded it. Granz decided to make the Gershwin box the most ambitious of all of them; 5 LPs plus a 7" limited edition bonus disc that included Riddle arrangements of Gershwin instrumental compositions. This project had the enthusiastic cooperation and participation of lyricist Ira Gershwin who attended the recording sessions and re-wrote lyrics for the occasion. This was the first songbook that was arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. Granz had wanted Riddle for the first songbooks, but he was unavailable at the time. This arrangement of the classic Let's Call the Whole Thing Off features the usual complement of reeds, trombones, and rhythm section but only includes one trumpet. This part is really just a soloist behind the vocals, though the part is largely written out. These arrangements have been requested for many years, and it is a thrill to present them.