Customer Reviews

Miki Sings Billie

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Miki Howard took on quite a task when she did this tribute album to Billie Holiday. And she did Billie some justice! This R&B diva brings her own wonderfully accomplished style to these songs, making each one unique. Yes, you've heard them before but not like this.

"I'm A Fool To Want You" is smokey. "My Man" is deep and delicious. "Solitude" and "Yesterdays" are worth the price of the whole CD! Miki's vocal on "Strange Fruit" knocked me out. Miki's "Don't Explain" is the definitive version of this song. The orchestral arrangements are full-bodied and jazzy.

If you love Miki Howard and old jazz, this one is a must for your collection.

Miki salutes Billie Holiday honorably with 'Miki Sings Billie', not by imitating her, but by using her own musicality and her own experiences to inject a lively spirit into these classics made famous by "Lady Day". Over 10 songs, Miki flows seamlessly from romance ("What A Little Moonlight") to despair ("Solitude"), from sass ("T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness") to trepidation ("Strange Fruit"). She exudes every emotion with wreckless abandon. While Miki's interpretation is different (as it should be), her rendering of "Strange Fruit" is just as haunting if not more so. It remains perhaps the greatest social commentary ever in music.

This is Miki's greatest artistic musical achievement that deserved much more attention and accolades than it received. It puts today's so-called jazz tributes to shame. Kudos to David Foster and LeMel Humes for outstanding production. Don't wait a minute longer to add this CD/mp3 album to your collection.

*Thanks to the documentary series 'Unsung' on TV One which featured Miki Howard in a wonderful expose on one of our greatest R&B singers.

I will never understand why this CD was not an across-the board success. Miki Howard pays a loving and respectful yet innovative tribute to Billie Holliday here. What I find most appealing, however, is that Miki makes most of these songs in her own way--without imitating Billie's style--and thus adds a new dimension to the originals. Classy arrangements and lush, elegant orchestrations match the mood perfectly.

Billie Holiday would be so proud, if she were alive to hear Ms. Howard belt out her signature tunes. Miki Howard is the most underestimated R & B artist of this era. Never have I heard someone bring such serious emotion and passion to music since Anita Baker. I do wish Miki would have done a gospel album, as it too would have been just as stunning as this album here. "My Man" and "Don't Explain" are stunning gems that stand out, but this entire album is beyond incredible. We owe it to Ms. Howard, and the late, great Billie Holiday to enjoy what I'm sure, is the finest music you'll ever hear. Enjoy!!