Either Way - CD

ENGLISH

We no longer introduce Anne Ducros: great lady of vocal jazz, who was also the singing teacher for the last Star Academy season. She recorded most of her albums on Dreyfus label (before his founder passed away), a rich dis-cography that allowed her to collaborate with Didier Lockwood, Toots Thielemans, Chick Corea, Jacky Terrasson, Enrico Pieranunzi, René Urtreger... Two years after her album ded-icated to Ella Fitzgerald, Anne Ducros pays trib-ute to Marilyn (Monroe) and Ella (Fitzgerald).<br /> <br /> "In 1955, year of the "Civil Rights Movement " led by Dr Martin Luther King in a very tense political climat, the Mocambo in Los Angeles is the place to be. Like all clubs at this time, no black and white at the same place. Marilyn great fan of Ella decided otherwise. This is what Ella Fitzgerald said about it: "I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt ... she personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him ' and it was true, due to Marilyn's superstar status ' that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play in a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman ' a little ahead of her times. And she didn't know it. " With EITHER WAY and like a painter rendering his own reality, I give you a portrait in black and white and in my own way of these two american icons such as Ella and Marilyn The<br /> "Love letter " addressed to Ella Fitz-gerald, with my previous album "Ella, my Dear... "was a version for full orchestra, magnificently arranged by Ivan Jullien of Ella's repertoire, my first and essential source of inspiration. Entirely re-orchestrated in jazz quartet idiom for EITHER WAY, the stand-ards of Gershwin, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer or Duke Ellington sound minimalist on this album in comparison to the previous one, with the exception of "But not for me" where I wanted a move, assisted by the mysterious, heartrending voice of Mamani, towards Africa. In the other volume of this diptych, devoted to Marilyn, I make a com-pletely personal proposition of the emblematic repertoire of that fragile star, perhaps even more exposed in her singing, than in her acting. You know the place we are going, let me take you there my way...all roads lead to Ella &amp; Marilyn. Ella, Norma, Black or White... EITHER WAY. To these amazing and unusual women, with all my love and respect..."<br /> -- Anne Ducros