The Ultimate Collection (Box Set) (CD)

• Category:  Music  »  Jazz  »  Classic Jazz Vocals
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: April 5, 2005
• Label: Hip-O Records
• UPC: 075021034006
• WAPI (Tower ID): 106696912
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• Tower.com Sales Rank: #15086 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #804 in Jazz (See Top 100 Jazz Bestsellers)
• #21 in Classic Jazz Vocals (See Top 100 Classic Jazz Vocals Bestsellers)

DVD includes rare film and television appearances as well as an audio rehearsal plus audio interviews with Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Jimmy Rowles, Sylvia Syms, Roy Eldridge, Jo Jones, John Hammond and others.

Personnel include: Billie Holiday (vocals); Louis Armstrong (vocals); Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessel, Mundell Lowe (guitar); Tony Scott , Benny Goodman, Buster Bailey (clarinet); Johnny Hodges, Willie Smith, Benny Carter (alto saxophone); Al Cohn, Lester Young, Paul Quinichette, Ben Webster (tenor saxophone); Frankie Newton, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Roy Eldridge, Billy Butterfield, Bobby Hackett, Buck Clayton, Charlie Shavers (trumpet); Jimmy Rowles (piano, celesta); Eddie Heywood, Oscar Peterson, Teddy Wilson, Wynton Kelly, Bobby Tucker (piano); John Kirby, Ray Brown (double bass); Chico Hamilton, Cozy Cole, Alvin Stoller, Sid Catlett (drums); Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra.

Liner Note Author: Ashley Kahn.

Recording information: 1935 - 1958.

Arrangers: Ray Ellis; Gordon Jenkins; Jimmy Mundy; Sy Oliver.

Meticulously selected, lovingly assembled, and beautifully packaged, this two-CD/one-DVD collection is a true retrospective, featuring representative cuts from the length of Billie Holiday's career across a range of labels. While most compilations focus on one period of the legendary singer's career, THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION includes recordings Holiday cut for Decca, Verve, Columbia, Commodore, and others. The backing bands range from small combos to large ensembles, and include such luminaries as Roy Eldridge, Ben Webster, Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Johnny Hodges, Louis Armstrong, and Lester Young.

The set begins with Holiday's 1935 Brunswick dates. The chronological arrangement allows the listener to observe the transformation of Holiday's vocal style, from the light, buoyant early work through her definitive '40s middle period and on to her final sessions from the late '50s, when her voice was broken and life-torn. No matter the phase, Holiday's performances are masterful, gripping, and immediately seductive (not to mention--in cases like the 1939 recording of "Strange Fruit"--historically important). The DVD, which features 10 television and film performances, a timeline, and bonus audio features, is almost too good to be believed. Opinions will continue to differ about the "greatest female jazz vocalist," but be warned: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION might make any case but Lady Day's hard to argue.

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