Enamorado de la voz de Ella Fitzgerald ha transcurrido mucho de mi tiempo vital, que ha sido revitalizado continuamente por el jazz, además del blues y el rock (no pesado).

La "Reina del Jazz", como la catalogaron, nació el 25 de abril de 1917 y murió en 1996, con una vida llena de heridas y dolores, pero también de sonrisas y placeres. A ella, la Ella por excelencia, quise dedicar una atrevida microficción en donde pongo a hablar a su hijo vivo, también músico, Ray Brown, Jr.

In love with the voice of Ella Fitzgerald has passed much of my vital time, which has been continuously revitalized by jazz, as well as blues and non-heavy rock.

The “Queen of Jazz”, as she was labeled, was born on April 25, 1917 and died in 1996, with a life full of wounds and pains, but also of smiles and pleasures. To her, the "Ella" par excellence, I wanted to dedicate a daring microfiction in which I put to speak her living son, also a musician, Ray Brown, Jr.

Madre, permíteme decirte que fuiste única. No sé si te lo dije en vida. Tú me adoptaste, y fuiste la verdadera madre, la que nunca me abandonó. Sé que tú sí viviste duramente en tu infancia el abandono, el del padre. Y tuviste que acompañar y apoyar siempre a mi abuela hasta su muerte. Y que te tocó fuerte; hacer duras y difíciles tareas en la calle para sobrevivir, entre la discriminación social y racial, que te marcaron en tu temprana juventud.

Pero seguiste afrontando la vida, y pese a las carencias, llegaste a ser nada más y nada menos que la "Reina del Jazz", como te han catalogado apropiadamente. Si lo podré decir yo, a quien diste el ejemplo y el impulso para la música, arte al que me dedico gracias a ti.

Tu voz sin igual, tu ritmo, tu feeling, hicieron no solo un estilo; más, un mundo musical para el placer, sentimental o vivaz. Así lo comprendieron los maestros, los grandes Armstrong, Ellington, Porter, Gershwin, Basie... ¡Cuántos hoy siguen escuchándote, y sintiéndote! ¡Qué modo de incorporar el scat, con cuánta ductilidad!

Has sido reconocida justamente, con los premios Grammy recibidos y los honores de mi país. Claro, todo pasa, y solo queda al final la verdad terrible de la vida, que te tocó de nuevo experimentar duramente, quedando casi inválida. Pero siempre volverá a mí aquella expresión final: «Estoy lista para irme ahora», luego de oler el aire de la naturaleza, escuchar el canto de los pájaros y la risa de tu nieta.

Gracias, madre.

_{Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Fuente / Source}

Mother, let me tell you that you were unique. I don't know if I told you that in life. You adopted me, and you were the true mother, the one who never abandoned me. I know that you did live hard in your childhood the abandonment, the father's. And you had to always accompany and support my grandmother. And you always had to accompany and support my grandmother until her death. And that you had to do hard and difficult tasks in the street to survive, among the social and racial discrimination that marked you in your early youth.

But you continued to face life, and despite the shortcomings, you became nothing more and nothing less than the “Queen of Jazz”, as you have been appropriately labeled. If I can say so myself, to whom you gave the example and the impulse for music, an art to which I have dedicated myself thanks to you.

Your unique voice, your rhythm, your feeling, made not only a style, but a musical world for pleasure, sentimental or lively. This is how the masters understood it, the great Armstrong, Ellington, Porter, Gershwin, Basie.... How many are still listening to you today, and feeling you! What a way to incorporate the scat), with such ductility!

You have been justly recognized, with the Grammy awards received and the honors of my country. Of course, everything passes, and only the terrible truth of life remains at the end, which you had to experience hard again, becoming almost invalid. But that final expression will always come back to me: “I am ready to leave now”, after smelling the air of nature, listening to the birds singing and the laughter of your granddaughter.

Thank you, mother.

*******

Louis Armstrong y Ella Fitzgerald hicieron un dúo inolvidable. Aquí una de sus más recordadas combinaciones | Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald made an unforgettable duet. Here is one of their most memorable combinations: