RECONGNISED for lifting jazz and American popular song to new heights, the music of Ella Fitzgerald defined an era.

In a career of multiple Grammy wins and millions of records sold, Fitzgerald really was a one of a kind both on and off the stage.

To mark what would have been the inspirational singer/songwriter’s 100th birthday a special celebration concert will be coming to The Anvil.

Olivier Award-nominated singer Alison Jiear and the London Concert Orchestra Show Band will take to the stage to bring to life the jazz and blues artist’s music on October 22.

Trained at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Australia is no stranger to the music of Fitzgerald – as she speaks to The Gazette she is admiring her Ella Fitzgerald vinyl collection.

“She was just an incredible musician,” Jiear told The Gazette.

“She could have this beautiful tone to her voice, then the very next moment be scatting all over the place.

“But she was much more than a musician, she also had this incredible story. She had a tough childhood and a tough life and for her to overcome the things she did that is something we need to celebrate.”

Jiear said her and her accompanying 17-piece orchestra are sticking true to Fitzgerald’s original composition for the show.

But with such an extensive back catalogue, the difficult task for the crew was deciding what made the cut for the 90-minute show.

The singer added: “I made an Ella playlist a few weeks back and I think I had something like 94 hours’ worth of music there, she just was relentless and it is amazing.

“You are never going to make everyone happy, but we try to include as many of the classics as we can.

“I wanted to chose the songs in relation to telling her story and I hope we have done that.”