Artists gather to pay tribute to Ella Fitzgerald

Ella. The mere mention of her name evokes memories of jazzy favorites sung in that unmistakable timbre and style, a marriage of whipped cream and grits. Perhaps her torchy treatment of “Round Midnight” comes to mind, or her scatteriffic version of “One Note Samba.” For every devoted Ella Fitzgerald fan who can’t resist humming “A Tisket, A Tasket” while doing daily chores, a new one is about to discover the sounds and stories belonging to the “First Lady of Song.” The Kennedy Center celebrates her contributions to American music Sunday. Along with spokeswoman Janis Siegel — whose expertise spans solo artist, writer, producer and member of Manhattan Transfer — the cast includes vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater and Al Jarreau, pianist Cyrus Chestnut and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. Antonio Hart is music director for the stellar event. They will showcase Fitzgerald’s hits, together with such obscure gems as “Like Young” by Andre Previn and Kenny Burrell’s “Dear Ella,” which sums up the affection of her fans.

“Our goal is to get across Ella’s imagination and spontaneity and the scope of her songbook from pop standards to bebop,” Siegel said. “She’s always been my idol, so it’s a joy to share her story. We won’t go deeply into her history, but devote most of the time to her music. Each performer has a special personality, so this is an opportunity to put across her songs in solos, duets and various permutations.”

Those wishing to reminisce in advance are invited to attend a rare film on Saturday incorporating some of Fitzgerald’s performances with Count Basie, Zoot Sims, Keter Betts and other musical legends of the era. She cut more than 40 million albums, won 13 Grammy Awards and received numerous honors, among them multiple honorary doctorates, the Kennedy Center Medal of Honor and the National Medal of Art.

Fitzgerald will be remembered at several educational events during the week following the concert. Siegel will present a workshop at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, listen to the vocal students sing and critique them. She said she is especially excited about participating in the filming of a long-distance learning project for schools nationwide to help students understand how Fitzgerald overcame countless obstacles.

After winning the Apollo Theatre’s amateur hour singing “The Object of My Affection,” she began singing with Chick Webb’s orchestra, becoming bandleader upon his death. Although she found it difficult at first to break into the mainstream big bands because she lacked the glamour of typical band vocalists of the period, she toppled the roadblocks to emerge as the most beloved and influential jazz singer of the century.

Like Fitzgerald, Siegel and her Manhattan Transfer colleagues — Alan Paul, Tim Hauser, Lauren Masse and Cheryl Bentyne — have pioneered vocal jazz. They were the first group to win Grammy Awards for both popular and jazz categories in 1981 and shared the stage with Ella in a performance of “How High the Moon” that swings in splendor on YouTube.

Together and separately, they have taken home many awards, including honorary doctorates and induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Siegel especially cherishes her first Grammy for Best Vocal Arrangement of “Birdland,” but is equally proud of the ensemble’s recent recording of the Chick Corea Songbook. The composer’s huge range, complex rhythms and singing piano lines are ideal for vocalizing music in the jazzy style perfected by Fitzgerald.