Customer Reviews

Billie Holiday Songbook

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Prepare yourself to be wrapped in a Smooth, Relaxed CD unhurried at it's best. This was my first acquaintance with Terence Blanchard and I've been hooked ever since. He does Billie Holiday Justice and every time I hear this CD it reminds me of Sundays with Rain outside my window pane or Ballroom dancing with flowing gowns. I hope one enjoys this masterpiece as well as I do.

This is arguably Blanchard's best work. Smooth, soothing ballads and groovy upbeat renditions make this album fly by. I'm not a big fan of trumpet muting, but he employs it here without being shrill or annoying. The vocals are wonderful too. Jeanie Bryson does Billy's emotion justice while adding her own dash of sultry swing and flair. It's a great performance on all parts. Many of the ballads are reminiscent of "I'm Old Fashioned" by Coltrane and "Blue in Green" by Miles Davis. If that's what you like this has it.

Terence Blanchard can do so much, he can so develop a concept to a crystalline purity. This recording is just so elegant and free of excess. Jeannie Bryson is an interesting choice as a vocalist on some of these pieces. Her voice distinct from Billie Holidays, lighter, airier and very intimate. It's as if she's singing just for you. She has excellent control, her voice grabs onto some notes, like Miles did. Finding that note's emotional pitch. She doesn't know what over singing is. She's emotionally direct. She doesn't overstate. If there was someone that you can liken her to, I would say it would be Shirley Horn.

Terence is just amazing in the richness of tone, the attention to melody, the plaintiveness, the sheer emotion in his playing on the ballads. His sensitivity in accompaniment. He swings in the best sense of the tradition on the faster pieces.

The orchestra arrangements effectively support, conveys a sense of romance without ever being syrupy. The textures are rich. There is a wonderful use of space. It's refreshing in this age of over engineered, dense, over amplified recordings.

This is a very well done recording that now, years later, plays just as well as when it was released. Emotionally direct, true to the artist it plays tribute to without actually mimicking any of the original recordings.

Terence Blanchard is one of the truly underrated, complete arranger/composer/instrumentalist/conceptualists.

I was happy to get a good product of a low price. I would buy from this vender anytime given the level of satisfaction I have.

I remember him off from doing film or music scores for movies like Malcolm X, 'Mo Better Blues, Eve's Bayou, 25th Hr., Gia, just to name of a few. And he sure sounds good. Maybe 1 of those days he'll take up the stage or take up the place as the next level of Quincy Jones, John Williams, Henry Mancini, Leonard Bernstein, Elmer Bernstein, Jerry Goldsmith, just to name a few.

When I fell in love w/ this CD which I checked out at a local library I was amazed. This s**t is poppin when I heard it was good. Such sweet songs and melodies on which ol' Billie Holiday when she was young and she still looks older and lives on in this tribute disc.

I hope to pick it up soon. Well it's a must if u love Billie or like jazz by any chance.

my favorite jaz cd///if you like slow relaxing jazz this is a must buy!!!