Billie Holiday Sings "Fine and Mellow"
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Artist:
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Album:Billie Holiday
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In 1957, CBS scheduled a live telecast of the jazz world as it was then, a mainstream, straight ahead experience. Called "The Sound of Jazz," it proved to be so popular that Columbia Records released a sound copy in stereo. All of the biggest names in jazz (save Satchmo!) were present, giving their all for their art. Billie Holiday was reunited with her past lover tenor saxist Lester Young who wasn't in good shape at this stage in his life. Lester's drug and alcohol addictions had caught up with him and destroyed his artistry. In fact, Coleman Hawkins had to cover for Lester at times when the latter was just too incompetent to play. There is a fine melancholy in this performance with everyone pulling themselves together for this performance. Holiday is in fine shape for this performance. It's hard to believe that her life would end just two years later at age 45.
The world lost something special in Billie Holiday when she passed. The eloquent spokesperson for broken hearts still lives on in her recordings and what little evidence we have of her singing live. The Billy Holiday legacy will always be there whenever and wherever someone's heart gets bruised and broken, or a lonely figure sits on a prak bench sobbing. These are the people who will find a friend in the voice and manner of Billie Holiday.
Comments (4)
Excellent! I can't remember having seen a clip of her performing live before. What a nice treat. The music's great and she really seems to be into the song.
Thank you!
Oh, and sometimes I'm the lonely figure on the park bench sobbing. Except, I'm not on the park bench and I'm only sobbing inside...
toronno,
I've been there myself many a time! However, I usually take it home and cry. I'm funny that way!
Yours,
musikfriend
toronno,
Having said that, I occasionally slip up and am the guy on the park bench sobbing.
Yours,
musikfriend