‘How High The Moon: The Music Of Ella Fitzgerald’ Soars at MRT

‘How High The Moon: The Music Of Ella Fitzgerald’ – Conceived/Directed by Rob Ruggiero; Music Direction/Pianist George Caldwell; Stage Manager Brian Robillard. Starring Tina Fabrique; Ron Haynes, Trumpet; Rodney Harper, Drums; Nolan Nwachukwu, Bass. Presented by Merrimack Repertory Theatre, 50 E. Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA through May 21

By Nancy Grossman

How High The Moon: The Music Of Ella Fitzgerald is an entertaining theatrical concert that will have you tapping your toes and snapping your fingers as Tina Fabrique and company take you on a sentimental journey through seven decades of the 20th century. Dubbed “The First Lady of Song,” Ella is on the short list of artists with whom the world is on a first-name basis, still widely recognized and adored nearly thirty years after her passing. 

Fabrique is no stranger to the Fitzgerald songbook, reprising the role she created in Ella The Musical, Jeffrey Hatcher’s biographical work staged at Long Wharf Theatre (2010), and workshopped at Hartford TheatreWorks (2005). Her performance is seamless and engaging, and she wears the persona of Ella like a second skin. She occasionally sounds like her but mostly evokes her with her scatting and song-styling.

In the limited spoken segments of the concert, it is evident that Fabrique’s is a labor of love as she dishes out bits of Ella’s story. With pride, she tells us that Ella was the first African-American woman to win a Grammy and that the hard times she overcame in life were the underpinning for the feelings expressed in her music. 

But the banter is kept to a minimum because this show is, as it should be, all about the music. Jam-packed into just over an hour are about 15 or 16 of the most familiar tunes in Ella’s interpretation of the American songbook. Fabrique and her topnotch quartet (Music Director/pianist George Caldwell, trumpeter Ron Haynes, drummer Rodney Harper, bassist Nolan Nwachukwu) started with a sizzling “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing)” and rattled off “Lullaby of Birdland,” “Fascinating Rhythm,” and “S’Wonderful” in succession.

Honoring Ella’s great collaboration with Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong (they recorded three albums together), Fabrique and Haynes paired for a trio of their hits, with the latter acquitting himself nicely in the vocal department, but his horn-playing was more impressive on “Cheek to Cheek,” “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” and “Our Love is Here to Stay.” 

There’s no shortage of Fitzgerald’s signature songs, and Fabrique offered “Mr. Paganini” and “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” among them. Bassist Nwachukwu showcased his stuff, backing her on “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” and a beautiful rendition of “Blue Skies” featured some fancy keyboard tickling by Caldwell. “How High the Moon” was the penultimate selection because there was no way this show was ending without an encore. Fabrique and the band took it on home with George Gershwin’s “Oh, Lady Be Good,” and she most certainly was. For tickets and information: Box Office at 978-654-4678 or www.mrt.org