SFJAZZ celebrates the joyful music of Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady of Song, as vocalist Stella Heath and her band share the legacy of Ella’s vocal prowess in this month’s Family Matinee, “Stella Swings Ella!”!

Kids and families will love discovering Ella’s amazing, six-decade long journey—from her energetic swing days at the Savoy Ballroom with Chick Webb to her dazzling scat-singing and beloved songbook classics. Along the way, she teamed up with musical legends like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gilespie, Joe Pass, and so many more. This show will feature songs and material from every era of Ella's musical evolution.

Bay Area favorite Stella Heath—known for her lively performances in The Billie Holiday Project and Stella Meets Nat—brings Ella’s music to life in Stella Swings Ella, a show perfect for young audiences. With a fantastic band featuring Neil Fontano (piano), Ian Scherer (guitar), Marcus Shelby (bass), Robby Elfman (sax/clarinet), and Riley Baker (drums), this interactive and upbeat concert will have everyone clapping, singing, and dancing along!

Band Personnel:
Stella Heath, vocalist & musical director
Robby Elfman, clarinet & sax
Neil Fontano, piano
Daniel Fabricant, bass
Spike Klein, drums

Set List:
Darktown Strutters Ball, by Shelton Brooks
Moon Ray, by Count Basie, Eddie Durham, Artie Shaw
They All Laughed, by G. & I. Gershwin
Tenderly, by Walter Gross and Jack Lawrence
How High the Moon, by Morgan Lewis and Nancy Hamilton
All Of You, by Cole Porter
Take The A Train, by Duke Ellington Billy Strayhorn
Making Believe, by Jimmy McHugh and Jack Gordon & Easy Living, by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin
Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off (Gershwins) & Goodnight My Love, by Harry Revel and Mack Gordon
It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing, by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills)