Welcome to Discography in Philadelphia, PA

“Third Stage of Elegance” is Ella Gahnt’s third CD, but unlike her other two – “Immaculate Union” and “By Request,” this CD contains all originals written by Ella, Leon Mitchell, and a cut shared with songwriter-pianist Carol Frazier. In “Third Stage of Elegance,” Ella Gahnt bends the fabric of Jazz with her voice and style. All of the different vocal influences are evident and channeled through her singing. The stories she tells with the songs are her own that come from her life, love, and spiritual experiences. Everyone from the hard-core Jazz enthusiast to the newly initiated will find something to relate to as Ella takes us on her personal journey – the third stage of her musical life.

Review: “Third Stage of Elegance” by C. Michael Bailey

“All About Jazz” – Posted on May 6, 2017

Modern composers of jazz vocal pieces have much to contend with: first, the Great American Song Book. Jazz was largely developed from a learned reinterpretation of Tin Pan Alley standards composed as show tunes in the 1930s through the '50s. That is a dearth of music already existing that anything newly composed is compared against. So, hats off to all who try their hand at newly composed jazz vocal music. That said, Philadelphia vocalist Ella Gahnt has been doing exactly that over the course of three recordings: “Immaculate Union” (Self-Produced, 2001), “By Request” (Self-Produced, 2006), and the present “Third Stage of Elegance.”

In the first two recordings, Gahnt inserted her well-crafted compositions among time-tested standards. Third Stage of Elegance features nine original compositions presented with a simple piano jazz format. Gahnt's lyrics are decidedly adult. With a whiplash-inducing swing, Gahnt strolls through “What You'll Hear from Me” with a confident swagger and sway. Listen to “When You Walk Away,” and you hear the protagonist of Carly Simon's “You're So Vain” after 35 years of marriage. She takes chances with the deeper psychology plowed into her lyrics. These pay off when combined with her smart delivery and scat chops. Third Stage of Elegance is the next step, and an important one for Ella Gahnt.

“Ella Gahnt” (Quote published in 2017 on the “All About Jazz” Website)

I always like to say Jazz chose me as opposed to my choosing Jazz. I think over the years, I’ve been influenced by many singers and musicians – practically everyone I’ve ever heard, but I have always leaned toward the music of Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter, and Billie Holiday. Those singers paved the way and created such an amazing vocal legacy. I sang R&B years ago with other groups as well as our own group that we had together for a time. I still sing R&B occasionally, but I mostly sing Jazz because it’s the music I’m best at. It’s the music that most defines my style more than anything else I’ve sung, it’s also the music that makes me the happiest and allows me to tell clear stories when I sing. I believe that’s my most important job as a singer – to tell a great musical story that folks can feel and relate to...and, hopefully, remember how I told it.