Product Description:
Personnel: Billie Holiday (vocals); Tab Smith, Lem Davis (alto saxophone); Kenneth Hollon, Stan Payne (tenor saxophone); Frankie Newton, Doc Cheatham (trumpet); Vic Dickenson (trombone); Sonny White, Eddie Haywood (piano); Jimmy McLin, Teddy Walters (guitar); John Williams, John Simmons (bass); Eddie Dougherty, Sid Catlett (drums).
Producer: Milt Gabler.
Compilation producer: Orrin Keepnews.
Recorded at Brunswick World Broadcasting Studio, New York, New York on April 20, 1939; WOR Recording Studios, New York, New York on March 25 and April 1 & 8, 1944. Includes liner notes by Orrin Keepnews.
Digitally remastered by Erick Labson (1999, MCA Music Media Studios) and Jeff Willens (Universal Music Studios-East).
After a half-decade's apprenticeship at Columbia Records, Holiday did her first Commodore sessions in 1939, producing the chilling segregation saga "Strange Fruit." The singer was now a fully mature artist--some would say "artiste"--about to embark on her progressive "downtown" Cafe Society period.
While the early Columbia sides featured Billie as one swinging jazz musician among many, these small group arrangements lovingly showcase her interpretive skills, all in slow to medium tempo. Producer Milt Gabler would soon sign Holiday to Decca, where she would receive the full pop singer treatment, complete with upscale string orchestra, the next installment in the Billie Holiday story.
For personal non-commercial use only. All rights reserved.
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