Billie Holiday

PERSONNEL:

BILLIE HOLIDAY, vocals
CHARLIE SHAVERS, JOE NEWMAN, trumpet
FLIP PHILIPS, PAUL QUINICHETTE, tenor sax
OSCAR PETERSON, piano, organ
HERB ELLIS, BARNEY KESSEL, guitar
RAY BROWN, bass
ALVIN STOLLER, GUS JOHNSON, drums

Recorded in New York, May and July 1952, April 1954.

SIDE A:

01. If The Moon Turns Green
02. Remember
03. Autumn In New York
04. My Man
05. Lover Come Back To Me
06. Stormy Weather

SIDE B:

01. Yesterdays
02. He's Funny That Way
03. I Can't Face The Music
04. How Deep Is The Ocean (How High Is The Sky)
05. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
06. I Cried For You

Entitled Recital, this disc compiles numbers from 1952 and 1954 which were recorded with various accompanists. The musicians themselves kept a low profile out of respect for Billie Holiday; even Oscar Peterson shows himself to be a sensitive accompanist, while Paul Quinichette demonstrates that he is a very capable replacement for Lester Young. In this repertoire taken from musical and songbooks from 1921 to 1935, 'Lady Day' manages to convey her personality and life story - even in the softest of songs! Those with quick tempi, too, such as "What A Little Moonlight Can Do" - one of the outstanding numbers here - shine out with a personal touch. It is not only young talented singers who should listen to these masterpieces at least a dozen times per week - these gems will delight the passive music lover too.