Search - Rosemary Clooney :: Tribute to Billie Holiday

A labor of love--and one of Clooney's best albums.

Mary Whipple | New England | 01/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rosemary Clooney and Billie Holiday were old friends, and Holiday was even the god-mother of one of Clooney's daughters. In this heartfelt tribute to Holiday, Clooney shows the full range of Holiday's songs, singing them in a more relaxed way than one usually associates with Holiday. Wisely, she does not include Holiday's most famous song, "Strange Fruit" in this tribute.



Clooney is fifty when she records this CD, and she, like Holiday, has faced some traumatic experiences in her life. The slight world-weariness we hear in her mature voice is appropriate for Holiday's songs, and though Clooney's voice is deeper, it has a bit of the fragility that we also hear with Holiday.



Her backup musicians could not be better. Scott Hamilton on tenor sax (with a great solo on "Don't Explain") and Warren Vache on coronet (at his best in "Good Morning Heartache") do yeoman's work with their solos, echoing the passion of the songs while keeping their arrangements simple, clean. Nat Pierce on piano, Cal Collins on guitar (with a terrific solo on "Lover Man"), Monty Budwig on bass, and Jake Hanna on drums, fill out the group, all of them dedicated to honoring the spirit of Holiday and her songs while showing Rosie at her best.



Alternating swingy standards like "Mean to Me" and "Comes Love" with sad, quiet ballads like "Don't Explain" (my favorite on the album) and "Lover Man," Clooney varies the tempo and the mood, keeping the CD fresh throughout. One of her best albums, recorded when her range and her ability to interpret lyrics and convey meaning were at their height, this labor of love should appeal to Clooney fans and Holiday fans alike. n Mary Whipple

"

"Here's to My Lady - Rosie style"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 12/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The late Carl E. Jefferson definitely knew what he was doing when he signed Rosemary Clooney - she puts her signature on this "Tribute to Billie Holiday"...sings them with such intimacy and strength that you can see Billie sitting at a near-by table nodding her head with approval and saying - "Yes, you go girl". Each tune reveals something about both artists, is it style, talent, inner life with a touch of humanity...I would just say, they both have known life and the heart-ache it can bring.The entire album is full of superb standards from Lady Day's file - with rhythmic back-up by Nat Pierce (piano), Cal Collins (guitar), Warren Vache' (cornet), Monty Budwig (bass), Jake Hanna (drums) and the great Scott Hamilton (sax) adding icing to the perfection of our "girl singers" definitive performances.Some highlights - "GOOD MORNING, HEARTACHE" has all the warmth through tender lyrical interpretation..."MEAN TO ME" change of pace, swinging through happier times..."LOVER MAN (OH WHERE CAN YOU BE?)" and whisper sweet little things in my ears, Rosie sings it, you believe it..."DON'T EXPLAIN" she's glad you're back and so are we, with our "girl singer" pouring her heart out..."COMES LOVE" the whole gang is jamming away, as Rosie keeps the tune alive and well, pure swing prevails.Concord Jazz presents one of the best tribute albums to come along for some time - Rosie captures the moment and mood of this great jazz artist...and Rosie said it best - "Billie Holiday, her talent and courage are the benchmarks for every singer to aspire to. I'm proud to say she is my daughter Maria's Godmother"...and Rosemary Clooney, it takes one to know one!Total Time: 41:42 on 10 Tracks...Concord Jazz CCD-4081...(1979)"