Billie Holiday, Lester Young - A Musical Romance

Romeo and Juliet...Eloise and Abelard...Tracy and Hepburn. These are among history's great romantic relationships, but perhaps the deepest of all romances - in all of American music, at any rate - was the one that was carried on in the recording studio between Billie Holiday (1915-1959) and Lester Young (1910-1959). "Lady Day" and "The President" (they gave one another their nicknames) made a series of "sides," as they were called in those days, that to this day absolutely define love in tune. She was - and is - the greatest of all jazz vocalists. His tenor saxophone style delivered the real Birth of the Cool. Together, they sang and played with an unparalleled sense of intimacy, warmth, and sensuous, behind-the-beat swing, whether the melody was pure gold (like "The Man I Love," "Time On My Hands") or closer to brass ("When You're Smiling," "Back In Your Own Backyard"). Originally produced by the redoubtable John Hammond, and intended first and foremost for jukeboxes, these sixteen seminal performances have been culled from the Grammy-winning 10-CD boxed set Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia, 1933-1944. They also feature vital contributions from, among others, pianist-arranger Teddy Wilson, who served as leader on many of Holiday's record dates, Swing era superstar clarinetist Benny Goodman, ace trumpeter Buck Clayton (Young's cohort from Count Basie's definitive swing band), the sublime Ellingtonian alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, and Roy Eldridge, little giant of the trumpet. But Lady Day and Pres, forever dancing in the dark, make this a musical romance that will never die. Album Description

Lady Day and Pres' Most Romantic Moments

"In their recordings, especially those from 1937 and 1938, their voices wound around one another like twin strands of some beautiful vine. At their best, they became, almost literally, one voice." ~ Tom Piazza ~

Every jazz lover knows that "Lady Day" was the nickname Lester Young gave to Billie Holiday and she called the great tenor saxophonist "Pres" - short for "The President." Together, they have made beautiful music as showcased in this essential CD, "A Musical Romance." It is a compilation of songs with beautiful melodies and dramatic lyrics they both recorded between 1937 and 1958 starting with one of the most-recorded gems from George and Ira Gershwin, "The Man I Love" highlighting Lester Young's remarkable sax solo.

Billie Holiday and Lester Young complement each other and their performances on all sixteen tracks are all winners. Likewise, all the song interpretations remained faithful to the very essence of this album's romantic theme. Ms. Holiday's unique vocals and Mr. Young's mastery of his favorite instrument blended so well to make an incredible chemistry. The result is truly "a musical romance."

One of the most incredible tracks is an exuberant and very pleasant version of "When You're Smiling." You'll also be delighted with "I'll Never Be The Same" recorded in 1937 showcasing Pres' stunningly beautiful obligato, and same is true with "He's Funny That Way."

Some of the greatest musicians involved in these recordings include Benny Goodman and Buster Bailey (clarinet), Johnny Hodges (alto sax), Teddy Wilson and Mal Waldron (piano), Harry Edison and Buck Clayton (trumpet), Freddie Green (guitar), Walter Page (string bass), Jo Jones (drums), Benny Morton (trombone), Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster (tenor sax), among others.

This is one of the best-ever compilations produced by Sony Music and I most definitely recommend it to all jazz enthusiasts' listening pleasure.

"If music be the food of love, play on." ~ William Shakespeare (1564-1616) ~
December 19, 2007

Wow.

This is a great compilation. Of course, everyone who knows the comprehensive nine CD collection from Columbia (The Quintessential Billie Holiday) will have favorites that are missing from this selected greats, but this disc is representative of the electric interaction of Lester Young and Billie Holiday. It really does record a musical romance. Songs like "This Years' Kisses" underpinned by Teddy Wilson's piano, Freddie Greene's guitar, Walter Page's bass and Jo Jones' drums are classics. Holiday is the legendary "Lady Day" and Young is her bolster and foil. She simply handles songs, takes them as her own and defines them--musically, emotionally, poetically. Her style is always her own and it's instantly recognizable. Billie Holiday defines rhythm, phrasing, meaning with a poignancy that cannot be matched. Or described. Young is her perfect accompanist. He too is lyrical, poignant, pointedly emotional. So here we have classic settings of "I Must Have That Man," "When You're Smiling," "Without Your Love," "He's Funny That Way," and Holiday's own "Fine and Mellow." There are other collections featuring Lester Young and Billie Holiday, but this one is certainly a respectable cross section. And it also has the added bonus of classic jazz accompaniment by Wilson, trumpeter Buck Clayton, Benny Goodman and other giants of the swing era. December 30, 2005

A Great Disc at a Good Price...

Yeah, this is a really nice disc: it's about the best compilation of the tracks of Billie singing with Pres backing her up. Now, Billie sang with lots of fine musicians, and I'm not sure it's necessary to overemphasize the particular relationship between Billie and the Pres. In any case--as I've said--this is a really nice disc and a great compilation: the sound is absolutely excellent--plus, it seems to me that the producers have cannily increased the volume track ever so slightly, to give the Pres' solos that extra touch: if so, they've done an outstanding job!

A final note on this question of the "Fine and Mellow" track: the track featured here is a studio track recorded on 7 Dec. 1957 as a rehearsal for the following day's live telecast "The Sound of Jazz" (8 Dec. 1957).

The studio track (7 Dec. 1957) featured here is 6:19.

The live telecast track (8 Dec. 1957) is 8:46. (It can be found on Vol. 3, Billie Holiday Broadcast Performances [1956-58] on ZYX Music [Esp label] from Germany.) January 5, 2005

Pure beauty

I just wanted to disagree strongly with what M.S.F. wrote about the last track on this compilation. It comes from a live CBS TV broadcast, The Sound of Jazz, from either 1957 or 1958, and thoroughly deserves to be included. Agreed that by then Billie's voice had pretty much gone, and Lester was mainly just going through the motions, but the track is one of the last times they recorded together; although technically it's not their finest work, it is nonetheless very affecting.

Actually, it has been reissued a number of times, earlier on VHS but subsequently on DVD and you really have to see it as well as hear it to get the full effect. At one point, Billie turns to Lester with such a look of love; I always find that unbearably moving.
December 3, 2004

A Musical Romance is musical magic

Holiday and Young are an absolutely inspired duo for a CD. Two musical legends performing together at arguably both their peaks (late '30's). From "The Man I Love" through "Fine and Mellow" each song showcases the great saxophone sounds of Lester Young with the perfect voice of Billie Holiday. This is a perfect blend, as if they were meant to perform together. The songs create a mellow yet heady atmosphere that it's easy to drift into.
(Warning: don't try to play this CD as background music. You'll just stop whatever else you're doing and listen.)
Such wonderful music is difficult to write about because written adjectives don't suffice to convey the beauty of the sounds.
Suffice it to say that if you are a fan of either artist or want a good introduction to them, this CD is a must.
Also features such luminaries as Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson and Johnny Hodges. July 7, 2003

More reviews at Amazon.com ...