BILLIE HOLIDAY - The Complete Billie Holiday Song Book
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55727 (2 CD set)
CD1 Billie Holiday with various ensembles, recorded between 1936 and 1957
CD2 Vocal and instrumental versions of Billie Holiday songs by various artists and ensembles.
The re-issue business seems to be constantly attempting new ways of re-packaging heritage material to create the impression that it is offering something new. In this instance we have a collection built around tunes composed by Billie Holiday herself or in association with others, culled from a wide variety of sources. The first disc is devoted to historic performances by Billie beginning with the first recording of `Billie’s Blues (I Love My Man) `issued by Columbia in 1936 with accompaniment by a sextet featuring Bunny Berigan and Artie Shaw, going on to offer a further quartet version taken from the Commodore sessions plus two alternative takes. Other tunes from Billie’s slender oeuvre are given a similar compare and contrast treatment so we have six versions of `God Bless the Child`, two of `Don’t Explain` and `Fine and Mellow` as well as tunes like `Everything Happens for the Best`, `Long Gone Blues` and `Tell Me More` which she recorded only once never to re-visit. All are exquisite, classic performances featuring wonderful bands and legendary musicians but collectors will have to determine how much of this material they already have and how many alternative treatments they wish to hear, a problem that is compounded by the second disc which offers versions of many of the same tunes by other artists.
Here we are given no fewer than six versions of `God Bless the Child`, five of `Don’t Explain ‘and four of `Left Alone`, a tune she co-composed with Mal Waldron whose instrumental version features the keening, plaintive alto of Jackie McLean. This is one of seven of her tunes she never actually recorded herself but its melancholic theme has proved inspirational for other singers like Abbey Lincoln whose dramatic reading supported by a super band lead by Booker Little is included here along with a starkly existential take by Jennie Lee in concert with pianist Ran Blake. Of the instrumental highlights we have a lovely tenor solo from Ben Webster which graces a pitch perfect rendition of `God Bless` by Harry Belafonte who is supported by a superlative West Coast nonet whilst pianist Herbie Nichols is heard in trio format with Max Roach and Al McKibbon performing `Lady Sings the Blues`, his collaborative enterprise with the singer, to which she created the lyrics heard on the first disc.
None of the performances can be faulted, though Sam Cooke’s soul version of `God Bless` disappoints being set against soaring strings, heavenly choirs and ethereal harpists rather than the promised big band listed in the personnel line-up featuring trumpeters Gerald Wilson, Conte and Pete Candoli and Benny Carter on alto amongst other luminaries. The question is, fascinating though these contrasting versions are, how many times will you want to make the comparison once the novelty has worn off. Like all compilation packages it boils down to a case of caveat emptor, however for those new to the material this may be a desirable addition to a growing collection and if so the generous booklet with full personnel listings and song lyrics will be an added bonus.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55727 (2 CD set)
CD1 Billie Holiday with various ensembles, recorded between 1936 and 1957
CD2 Vocal and instrumental versions of Billie Holiday songs by various artists and ensembles.
The re-issue business seems to be constantly attempting new ways of re-packaging heritage material to create the impression that it is offering something new. In this instance we have a collection built around tunes composed by Billie Holiday herself or in association with others, culled from a wide variety of sources. The first disc is devoted to historic performances by Billie beginning with the first recording of `Billie’s Blues (I Love My Man) `issued by Columbia in 1936 with accompaniment by a sextet featuring Bunny Berigan and Artie Shaw, going on to offer a further quartet version taken from the Commodore sessions plus two alternative takes. Other tunes from Billie’s slender oeuvre are given a similar compare and contrast treatment so we have six versions of `God Bless the Child`, two of `Don’t Explain` and `Fine and Mellow` as well as tunes like `Everything Happens for the Best`, `Long Gone Blues` and `Tell Me More` which she recorded only once never to re-visit. All are exquisite, classic performances featuring wonderful bands and legendary musicians but collectors will have to determine how much of this material they already have and how many alternative treatments they wish to hear, a problem that is compounded by the second disc which offers versions of many of the same tunes by other artists.
Here we are given no fewer than six versions of `God Bless the Child`, five of `Don’t Explain ‘and four of `Left Alone`, a tune she co-composed with Mal Waldron whose instrumental version features the keening, plaintive alto of Jackie McLean. This is one of seven of her tunes she never actually recorded herself but its melancholic theme has proved inspirational for other singers like Abbey Lincoln whose dramatic reading supported by a super band lead by Booker Little is included here along with a starkly existential take by Jennie Lee in concert with pianist Ran Blake. Of the instrumental highlights we have a lovely tenor solo from Ben Webster which graces a pitch perfect rendition of `God Bless` by Harry Belafonte who is supported by a superlative West Coast nonet whilst pianist Herbie Nichols is heard in trio format with Max Roach and Al McKibbon performing `Lady Sings the Blues`, his collaborative enterprise with the singer, to which she created the lyrics heard on the first disc.
None of the performances can be faulted, though Sam Cooke’s soul version of `God Bless` disappoints being set against soaring strings, heavenly choirs and ethereal harpists rather than the promised big band listed in the personnel line-up featuring trumpeters Gerald Wilson, Conte and Pete Candoli and Benny Carter on alto amongst other luminaries. The question is, fascinating though these contrasting versions are, how many times will you want to make the comparison once the novelty has worn off. Like all compilation packages it boils down to a case of caveat emptor, however for those new to the material this may be a desirable addition to a growing collection and if so the generous booklet with full personnel listings and song lyrics will be an added bonus.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon
