Cinequest

Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things

Ella Fitzgerald was a 15-year-old street kid when she won a talent contest in 1934 at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Within months she was a star. Over the next six decades, her sublime voice would transform the tragedies of her own life and the troubles of her times into joy. JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS retraces this extraordinary journey.

JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala

Documentary about the star-studded pre-inaugural gala that took place on January 19, 1961 to celebrate John F. Kennedy's election.

Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music + Ella + Jobim

Man and His Music + Ella + Jobim is a 1967 television special starring Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, accompanied by Nelson Riddle and his orchestra. A truly memorable television event, the third annual special finds Frank joined by the dazzling Ella Fitzgerald in a historic pairing of the two preeminent vocal talents of the era. As if that weren't enough, Antonio Carlos Jobim accompanies Frank for an intimate medley of classics, including The Girl From Ipanema.

Ella Fitzgerald Swings

Presenting the world's greatest jazz singer accompanied by The Tommy Flanagan Trio.

The Apollo

The history of New York City's Apollo Theater in Harlem is given the full treatment.

Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrating Sammy Davis Jr 's 60th anniversary in show business, including musical,comic and dancing performers.

President Kennedy's Birthday Salute

President Kennedy's birthday celebration was held at the third Madison Square Garden on May 19, 1962, and more than 15,000 people attended, including numerous celebrities. The event was a fundraising gala for the Democratic Party. Features Marilyn Monroe singing to JFK.

Oscar Peterson: Music in the Key of Oscar

This riveting music documentary traces the history of Jazz piano legend Oscar Peterson, from his early days as Montreal's teenage Boogie-Woogie sensation through his meteoric rise to international celebrity with Norman Granz and the ground-breaking Jazz at the Philharmonic and beyond. In this award-winning autobiographical portrait, legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson narrates his story, from his beginnings in smoke-filled Montreal clubs to hallmark performances with jazz greats. Concert footage includes an unforgettable combo -- Nat King...

The Unforgettable Nat King Cole

Enjoy the smooth voice and cool rhythms of legendary American recording artist Nat "King" Cole with this music set, which includes popular hits like "Mona Lisa," "Save the Bones for Henry Jones," "Shine On Harvest Moon," "Sweet Lorraine" and more. The first African-American to host a television variety show, Cole sold millions of records throughout the course of his career and continues to possess enduring popularity worldwide.

Jazz Voice - The Ladies sing Jazz Vol.2

Ella Fitzgerald - Live At The North Sea Jazz Festival

Ella Fitzgerald Live in Australia

Ella Fitzgerald visited Australia back in 1960. Gracefully stepping up to the microphone for the celebrated television event 'The BP Super Show', hosted by musician and entertainer Horrie Dargie, Fitzgerald delivered a mellifluous set of legendary songs in an intimate concert setting at The Embers Nightclub in Toorak Road, South Yarra Victoria. This rarely seen B&W television treat is considered to be one of the earliest audio-visual recordings of the 'First Lady of Song', backed by the smooth sounds of the Lou Levy Quartet. Beside Fitzgeral...

Ella Fitzgerald: Best of the BBC Vaults

BBC archivists recently unearthed a veritable treasure trove of Ella Fitzgerald shows recorded by the BBC. Featuring two shows from 1965, and a performance live at Ronnie Scott’s from 1974; this is the timeless Ella Fitzgerald.

Pure Love: The Voice of Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald's voice is a phenomenon and unrivalled to this day. She had the perfect pitch and perfect intonation. Ella's voice spanned three octaves, her phrasing seemed effortless. There is almost no style of music, in which she did not excel, and her numerous - now legendary - recordings of the 'Great American Songbook' with pieces of US composers such as George and Ira Gershwin, Harald Arlen, Cole Porter or Duke Ellington, remained a benchmark for the "right" interpretation of those songs for generations of singers. In the film the fo...

Ella

Queens of Jazz: The Joy and Pain of the Jazz Divas

The documentary tracks the diva's difficult progress as she emerges from the tough, testosterone-fuelled world of the big bands of the 30s and 40s, to fill nightclubs and saloons across the US in the 50s and early 60s as a force in her own right. Looking at the lives and careers of six individual singers (Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone and Annie Ross), the film not only talks to those who knew and worked with these queens of jazz, but also to contemporary singers who sit on the shoulders of these trail...

Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"

The two musical masters swing out.

Movies by Ella Fitzgerald