Search - Billie Holiday :: Songs for Distingue Lovers

Lady at her best

franklin kameny | washington, dc United States | 09/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i am a 25 y'o black male i must say i have over 35 billie holiday cds and this one is # 2 on my list her voice is at it's best i think she did a good job at picking this songs to me billie holiday is the voice of jazz"

Unbelievable delivery!

Cynthia Glenn | Seattle, WA United States | 11/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like/appreciate alternative interpretations of songs.. BUY THIS CD! It made an immediate impression on me. I found it in the used bin after looking at it full price and I am soooo happy I did. First off the other reviewers are correct; tracks 1-6 create a mood unto themselves and are the original album. Track #7 and on are fun but are in a totally different mood. Second, if you are a jazz beginner, or appreciate more traditional interpretations of songs, you may not love this right off the bat. Billie is taking songs that have been sung hundreds of times before and putting her own inimitable stamp on them. She hints at meanings not originally there, turns melodies around, and in general gives these songs a new twist that no one to this day can match. If you are familiar with Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughn--they are going to offer you a more "pure" delivery. I love those singers too.. but Billie Holiday rises to a whole new plane on this album. She's singing in a way only she can.. and the only word I can think of to describe it is ART."

This LP was made in Heaven ...

James E. Scalise | Chicago | 08/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Through the years, I have read critics write about Billie losing her voice

as she got older - UTTER NONSENSE! Not on this recording. If anything, she gained feeling and emotional content due to living life.



You would be hard pressed to put together a better group of sympathetic musicians from this period to back her, and to play such GORGEOUS solos.

BEN WEBSTER, HARRY EDISON, BARNEY KESSEL, JIMMY ROWLES, RED MITCHELL, ALVIN STOLLER - Wow! These gentlemen were (are) a singers' dream to record with. Sinatra should have hired similar personnel when he formed REPRISE, but this is getting off track here.



Like K.O.B.(for instrumental jazz), THIS RECORDING belongs near the top

of anyone's Vocal collection."