Search - Billy Strayhorn :: Lush Life

Sweet Pea, Poor Quality Recording.

Real New York Painter | New York, NY | 11/21/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hearing Billy sing and accompany himself on Lush Life alone is worth the price of admission. So charming and really just the genuine article, he stands out in almost startling relief against the dreary present. The five tracks featuring Ozzie Bailey on vocals with Billy's sparkling and sophisticated accompaniment are unusual, and my favorites on this record. Do be aware that the quality of this CD is very uneven, obviously thrown together to make a buck from found material that was probably never meant to be released. Some of the tracks are horrendous bootleg quality, others are better. I adore it anyway. I play it all the time, just to hear one of our great American musical aristocrats performing his own material."