Release Date: 09 January 2004
Label: Naxos - Jazz Legends / Naxos Jazz Legends
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 636943275023
Genres: Jazz
Description
BILLIE HOLIDAY Vol.4'You're My Thrill' Original Recordings 1944-1949Billie Holiday's recording career can be easilydivided into three parts. During 1933-42 shegenerally recorded with groups of swing all-stars,taking a vocal chorus while holding her own on awide variety of material (some good, someforgettable) with such contemporaries as tenorsaxophonistLester Young, trumpeter BuckClayton and pianist Teddy Wilson. In the 1950sLady Day recorded superior standards with someof the top veteran jazz musicians but her voicefaded and one had to concentrate on herpassionate level of self-expression rather than herintonation. You're My Thrill has her bestrecordings from her middle period.The Billie Holiday story is full of drama,tragedy and musical triumphs. She was born asEleanora Harris on 7 April 1915 in Baltimore,Maryland to a couple who never married. Herfather, whom she only met a few times, wasClarence Holiday who played guitar for a fewyears with Fletcher Henderson's orchestra. Shetook her father's last name and liked the sound ofthe name Billie; perhaps it was her way ofescaping a scary and poverty-stricken childhood.Holiday was not a child for long and she survivedher early days with an inferiority complex thatwould help lead to her making consistently baddecisions throughout her life. However sheemerged with a determination to live life as wellas she could. Inspired by Bessie Smith and LouisArmstrong (particularly in her phrasing), Holidaywas singing in a Harlem club in 1933 when shewas discovered by producer John Hammond. Heteamed her with Benny Goodman and JackTeagarden on two numbers that were recordedand, although those selections were not toosuccessful, it was a start.Holiday appeared in a film short with DukeEllington (singing a blues chorus) and shefreelanced in clubs. In 1935 she got her big breakwhen Hammond hit upon the idea of havingTeddy Wilson put together all-star swing groupsfor record dates. Some of the selections featuredBillie Holiday and those became quite popular.Holiday's style was controversial at the timebecause she phrased behind-the-beat. She alsochanged notes to fit her small voice and rangerather than interpreting words and music exactlyas written, coming up with her own freshinterpretations.In addition to her steady stream ofrecordings, Holiday worked with the Count BasieOrchestra in 1937 and Artie Shaw's big band thefollowing year. Because she was signed to adifferent label than Basie and Shaw, those stintswent almost completely undocumented.1939 was one of several turning points inLady Day's career. She recorded the anti-lynchingsong \Strange Fruit and her solo career really gotunderway as she appeared regularly at CafeSociety in New York. Her recordings of 1940-42feature her more as a star rather than someonetaking her turn with other jazz musicians.Holiday's life was far from stable in the1940s. She became a heroin addict and spentmuch of 1947 serving a one-year jail sentence.On the brighter side, her voice was at
Tracklisting
Various
Waller, Fats
Waller, Fats
Venuti, Joe
Vaughan
Various Artists
Various
Various
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
