CD: Billie Holiday - Complete on Verve 1945-1959-10xCD Box Set- Rare

A Brilliant Album

Complete on Verve 1945-1959

10 x CD Box Set +Booklet

517 658-2

Billie Holiday

See Description for Tracklist

All in Excellent/Near Mint Condition

Original

review

As a comprehensive survey of Bille Holiday's recordings for Norman Granz this will probably never be surpassed. The remastering is superb and surviving alternative takes are included. In addition, the full rehearsal with Jimmy Rowles and that recorded at William Dufty's apartment are included and placed before the relevant studio sessions. Listened to in sequence these tracks give us a fascinating picture of Billie at work. We see her building performances from the earliest run throughs to the final takes and can see that, even in her later years, she was a complete professional. Also included is the concert recorded in Germany with Leonard Feather which was also issued by United Artists and Blue Note.

The music is, of course, superb. Billie's voice was, of course, very different from how it sounded in the 1930's. Then she was full of optimism and the joy of living. In the 1950's her voice had coarsened but her interpretations had much greater emotional depth - just listen to 'One For My Baby' for example. The 1957 sessions with Ben Webster and Jimmy Rowles are considered the best of the Verve years but the other dates also produced fine music and shouldn't be ignored.

This is wonderful set and to follow Billie's recorded career from her JATP appearances to her final sessions with Ray Ellis is among the most rewarding of listening experiences for both the serious collector and all lovers of fine jazz singing. Highly recommended.

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