Billie Holiday - Billie's Blues [Blue Note]

Most of this excellent CD features one of Billie Holiday's finest concert recordings of the 1950s. Recorded in Europe before an admiring audience, this enjoyable set finds Lady Day performing seven of her standards with her trio and joining in for jam session versions of "Billie's Blues" and "Lover Come Back to Me" with an all-star group starring clarinetist Buddy DeFranco, vibraphonist Red Norvo and guitarist Jimmy Raney. These performances (which find Holiday in stronger voice than on her studio recordings of the period) have also been included in Verve's massive CD box set. This program concludes with Holiday's four rare sides for Aladdin in 1951 (between her Decca and Verve periods) which are highlighted by two blues and "Detour Ahead," and her 1942 studio recording of "Trav'lin' Light" with Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alvy West Reeds Artie Shapiro Bass Beryl Booker Soloist, Piano Billie Holiday Vocals Bobby Tucker Piano Buddy DeFranco Clarinet Buddy Weed Piano Carl Drinkard Piano Don Waddilove Trumpet Elaine Leighton Drums Haywood Henry Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor) Jimmy Mundy Arranger Jimmy Raney Guitar Larry Neill Trumpet Lennie Hartman Reeds Leonard Feather Liner Notes Mark Gardner Liner Notes Michael Cuscuna Release Production Mike Pingatore Guitar Monty Kelly Trumpet Murray McEachern Trombone Paul Whiteman Musical Director Red Mitchell Bass Red Norvo Vibraphone Ron McMaster Digital Transfers Skip Layton Trombone Sonny Clark Piano, Soloist Tiny Grimes Guitar Willie Rodriguez Drums