Track Listings (16) - Disc #1| All Artists: Billie Holiday, Lester Young Title: A Musical Romance Members Wishing: 1 Total Copies: 0 Label: Sony Release Date: 7/30/2002 Genres: Jazz, Pop Styles: Swing Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Vocal Pop Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC: 696998663527 |
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Search - Billie Holiday, Lester Young :: A Musical Romance
 | Billie Holiday, Lester Young A Musical Romance Genres: Jazz, Pop
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 carr... more » |
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Album Description 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. Similar CDs
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CD ReviewsA Great Disc at a Good Price... Sébastien Melmoth | Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS | 01/05/2005 (5 out of 5 stars) "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.)" Lady Day and Pres' Most Romantic Moments Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 12/19/2007 (5 out of 5 stars) ""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) ~ " |
