"Twelve Nights in Hollywood"

For a generation of listeners, the late Ella Fitzgerald exists perhaps as more of a concept than someone who was once a living human being. As the Beatles are to pop music, Fitzgerald is to jazz vocals, and the quality and influence of their respective outputs have become such a part of our cultural firmament that they seem easy to take for granted.

Now with a lushly packaged new box set, "Twelve Nights in Hollywood," Fitzgerald comes alive. Comprising four CDs that include 76 never-before-released live tracks recorded in 1961 and 1962, this set is not only a vital discovery for Fitzgerald fans, but also perhaps the best starting point for neophytes who never have had the opportunity to hear what exactly made her special.