Tag Archives: Billie Holiday

James Taylor: American Standard

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On February 28, 2020, “Fantasy” label released “American Standard”, the twentieth James Taylor studio album. It was recorded at “The Barn” in Washington, MA, “United Recording Studios” in Hollywood, “Capitol Studios” in Los Angeles, “Treasure Isle Studios” and “Blackbird Studios” in Nashville, TN, and was produced by Dave O’Donnell, John Pizzarelli and James Taylor. “American Standard” won “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album” at the 63rd “Annual Grammy Awards”.

Personnel:

  • James Taylor – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Kate Markowitz – vocals
  • Arnold McCuller – vocals
  • Caroline Taylor – vocals
  • John Pizzarelli – rhythm guitar
  • Michael Landau – lead guitar
  • Larry Goldings – piano, keyboards
  • Jimmy Johnson – bass
  • Viktor Krauss – double bass
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Luis Conte – percussion
  • Dorian Holley – vocals
  • Louis Marini, Jr. – saxophones, flute, clarinet
  • Walter Fowler – trumpets, flügelhorn
  • Andrea Zonn – vocals, violin
  • Stuart Duncan – violin
  • Jerry Douglas – dobro, engineer
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Justin Shturtz – mastering assistant
  • Carrie Smith – art direction, design

Track listing:

  1. My Blue Heaven – Walter Donaldson, George A. Whiting
  2. Moon River – Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
  3. Teach Me Tonight – Gene de Paul,, Sammy Cahn
  4. As Easy as Rolling Off a Log – M.K. Jerome, Jack Scholl
  5. Almost Like Being in Love – Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner
  6. Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat – Frank Loesser
  7. The Nearness of You – Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
  8. You’ve Got to be carefully Taught – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
  9. God Bless the Child – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
  10. Pennies from Heaven – Arthur Johnston, Johnny Burke
  11. My Heart Stood Still – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  12. Ol’ Man River – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
  13.  It’s Only a Paper Moon – Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, Billy Rose
  14. The Surrey with the Fringe on Top – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II

Stevie Wonder: For Once in My Life

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On December 8, 1968, “Motown” label released “For Once in My Life”, the ninth studio and the tenth overall Stevie Wonder album. It was recorded December 1967 – August 1968, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Stevoe Wonder, Henry Cosby and Don Hunter.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – vocals, harmonica, piano, organ, clavinet, drums, percussion
  • Robert White – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke – piano
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Uriel Jones – drums
  • The Funk Brothers – various instruments
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. For Once in My Life – Ron Miller, Orlando Murden
  2. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  3. You Met Your Match – Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Wonder
  4. I Wanna Make Her Love Me – Henry Cosby, Don Hardaway, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  5. I’m More Than Happy (I’m Satisfied) – Henry Cosby, Cameron Grant, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  6. I Don’t Know Why – Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder
  7. Sunny – Bobby Hebb
  8. I’d Be a Fool Right Now – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  9. Ain’t No Lovin’ – Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder
  10. God Bless the Child – Arthur Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday
  11. Do I Love Her – Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy
  12. The House on the Hill – Lawrence Brown, Berry Gordy, Allen Story

Eugene Wright

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On December 30, 2020, Eugene Joseph Wright died aged 97. He was musician (bass), worked with Monty Alexander, Charlie Parker, Lee Shaw, Gene Ammons, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, Buddy DeFranco, Cal Tjader, Vince Guaraldi, Kai Winding, Sonny Stitt, Dottie Dodgion, and Dorothy Donegan, but was best known as a member and the bass player of the Dave Brubeck Quartet.

Abbey Lincoln: That’s Him!

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In December 1957, “Riverside” label released “That’s Him!”, the second Abbey Lincoln album. It was recorded in October 1957, at “Reeves Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Grauer and Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Abbey Lincoln – vocals
  • Kenny Dorham – trumpet
  • Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
  • Wynton Kelly – piano, bass
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Max Roach – drums

Track listing:

  1. Strong Man – Oscar Brown, Jr.
  2. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe – Harold Arlen, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg
  3. My Man – Jacques Charles, Channing Pollack, Albert Willemetz, Maurice Yvain
  4. Tender as a Rose – Phil Moore
  5. That’s Him – Ogden Nash, Kurt Weill
  6. I Must Have That Man! – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
  7. Porgy – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward
  8. When a Woman Loves a Man – Bernie Hanighen, Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Mercer
  9. Don’t Explain – Arthur Herzog, Jr., Billie Holiday

Mal Waldron: Mal / 2

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In November 1957, “Prestige” label released “Mal/2”, the second Mal Waldron album. It was recorded April – May 1957.

Personnel:

  • Mal Waldron – piano
  • John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
  • Idrees Sulieman, Bill Hardman – trumpet
  • Sahib Shihab – alto and baritone saxophone 
  • Jackie McLean – alto saxophone
  • Julian Euell – bass
  • Ed Thigpen, Art Taylor – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Mal Waldron except where noted.

  1. From This Moment On – Cole Porter
  2. J.M.’s Dream Doll
  3. The Way You Look Tonight – Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern
  4. One By One
  5. Don’t Explain – Arthur Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday
  6. Potpourri

Charlie Haden’s Quartet: Haunted Heart

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On July 28, 1992, “Verve” label released “Haunted Heart”, the fourth Charlie Haden’s Quartet West album. It was recorded in October 1991, at “Studio Plateforme” in Sète, and was produced by Charlie Haden and Hans Wendl.

Personnel:

  • Charlie Haden– bass
  • Ernie Watts- tenor saxophone
  • Alan Broadbent- piano
  • Larance Marable- drums
  • Billie Holiday, Jo Stafford, Jeri Southern – vocals

Track listing:

  1.  Introduction- Max Steiner, Adolph Deutsch
  2. Hello My Lovely – Charlie Haden
  3. Haunted Heart – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz
  4. Dance of the Infidels – Bud Powell
  5. The Long Goodbye – Alan Broadbent
  6. Moonlight Serenade – Glenn Miller, Mitchell Parish
  7. Lennie’s Pennies – Lennie Tristano
  8. Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye – Cole Porter
  9. Lady in the Lake – Alan Broadbent
  10. Segment – Charlie Parker
  11. The Bad and the Beautiful – David Raksin
  12. Deep Song – Douglass Cross, George Cory

 

John Hammond

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On July 10, 1987, John Henry Hammond II died aged 76. He was record producer, music critics, civil rights activist, and music scout, one of the most influential figures in 20th-century modern music. As “Columbia Records” company executive and as a record producer, he supported numerous musical careers, including those of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Benny Goodman, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Freddie Green, Leonard Cohen, Arthur Russell, Harry James, Charlie Christian, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Teddy Wilson, Big Joe Turner, Pete Seeger, Babatunde Olatunji, Jim Copp, Asha Puthli, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Mike Bloomfield. He also initiated the revival of delta blues legend Robert Johnson’s music. He is the father of blues musician John P. Hammond.

Wilbur Cobb

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On May 24, 2020, Wilbur James Cobb died aged 91. He was musician (drums), one of the most influential and respected drummers in Jazz music. He has recorded and performed with many musicians including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Dinah Washington, Pearl Bailey, Clark Terry, Cannonball Adderley, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Wynton Kelly, Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery, Art Pepper, Gil Evans, Paul Chambers, Kenny Burrell, J. J. Johnson, Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderley, Phil Upchurch, Benny Golson, Hank Jones, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Fathead Newman, Geri Allen, Earl Bostic, Leo Parker, Charlie Rouse, Ernie Royal, Philly Joe Jones, Bobby Timmons, Walter Booker, Jerome Richardson, Joey DeFrancesco, Keter Betts, Jimmy Cleveland, Sam Jones, Red Garland, Joe Henderson, Eddie Gómez, Bill Evans, Jeremy Steig, Richard Wyands, Peter Bernstein, Walter Bishop, Jr., Richie Cole, Nancy Wilson, Ricky Ford, David Amram, Donald Byrd, Kenny Barron and Toshiko Akiyoshi. Cobb recorded 17 albums as a leader.

Kenny Barron Trio: Minor Blues

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On August 19, 2009, “Venus” label released “Minor Blues”, the 43rd Kenny Barron album. It was recorded in 2009, and was produced by Tetsuo Hara and Todd Barkan.

  • Kenny Barron– piano
  • George Mraz– bass
  • Ben Riley– drums

Track listing:

  1. Minor Blues – Kenny Barron
  2. Beautiful Love – Wayne King, Victor Young, Egbert Van Alstyne, Haven Gillespie
  3. Emily – Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer
  4. For Heaven’s Sake – Elise Bretton, Sherman Edwards, Donald Meyer
  5. How Deep Is the Ocean? – Irving Berlin
  6. Too Late Now – Burton Lane, Alan Jay Lerner
  7. Don’t Explain – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
  8. Hush-a-Bye – Ambroise Thomas, Sammy Fain, Jerry Seelen
  9. I’ve Never Been in Love Before – Frank Loesser
  10. My Ideal – Leo Robin, Richard A. Whiting, Newell Chase

Aretha Franklin: The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin

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On August 13, 1962, “Columbia” label released “The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin”, the third  Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded April 27; May 4–5; May 11, at “Columbia Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Robert Mersey.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals, piano
  • Robert Mersey – personal supervisor, arrangements, conductor
  • Don Hunstein – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Cry, Baby – Saul Bernie, James P. Johnson, Stella Unger
  2. Try a Little Tenderness – James Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Harry M. Woods
  3. I Apologize – Al Hoffman, Al Goodhart, Ed Nelson
  4. Without the One You Love – Aretha Franklin
  5. Look for the Silver Lining – Jerome Kern, B.G. DeSylva
  6. I’m Sitting on Top of the World – Ray Henderson, Sam M. Lewis, Joe Young
  7. Just for a Thrill – Lil Hardin Armstrong, Don Raye
  8. God Bless the Child – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog, Jr.
  9. I’m Wandering – Berry Gordy, Jr., Tyran Carlo
  10. How Deep Is the Ocean – Irving Berlin
  11. I Don’t Know You Anymore – Gary Geld, Peter Udell
  12. Lover Come Back to Me – Sigmund Romberg, Oscar Hammerstein II