Ella is the most celebrated of divas, and she dominated the jazz scene for over fifty years, from her first hit A-Tisket, A-Tasket in 1938 to her gradual retirement from the stage in 1989 due to illness. She left her signature on every jazz universe to which she contributed. The Essential Works 1956-1959 throw light on her talents as a performer of the greatest standards, with songs written by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Rodgers & Hart. Ella succeeded in making popular melodies her own, most often songs taken from musicals that she transformed into as many pearls of vocal jazz. The four sides of this album bring together the indispensable inner soul of Ella Fitzgerald's recorded work.

1. A1. Let's Face the Music
2. A2. Putting on the Ritz
3 A3. Top Hat
4. A4. Cheek to Cheek
5. A5. How Deep Is the Ocean?
6. A6. Isn't This a Lovely Day
7. A7. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
8. B1. Easy to Love
9. B2. It's Alright with Me
10. B3. What Is This Thing Called Love?
11. B4. You Are the Top
12. B5. Night and Day
13. B6. I've Got You Under My Skin
14. B7. Too Darn Hot

1. C1. the Lady Is a Tramp
2. C2. Where or When
3. C3. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
4. C4. Ev'rything I've Got
5. C5. My Funny Valentine
6. C6. Blue Moon
7. D1. I've Got a Crush on You
8. D2. Fascinating Rhythm
9. D3. How Long Has This Been Going On?
10. D4. Soon
11. D5. Somebody Loves Me
12. D6. But Not for Me
13. D7. the Man I Love