MEDIUM Vinyl Record
WEIGHT 2 x 180gr (black Vinyl) 33rpm
CONDITION sealed
COVER Gatefold
CONDITION COVER M mint
COVER DAMAGES No, we take care about that
SERIALNUMBER No
LIMITED Yes
MISCELLANEOUS Stereo
MUSICIAN HOMEPAGE --
Archie Shepp - tenor sax, soprano sax, vocals
Mal Waldron - piano
easy living - 5:53
nice work if you can get it - 4:27
everything happens to me - 5:49
left alone - 9:10
when your lover has gone - 5:28
i only have eyes for you - 6:50
blues for 52nd street - 5:25
porgy - 8:38
lady sings the blues - 3:34
left alone (spoken lyrics) - 0:49
Mal Waldron's first tribute to Billie Holiday, titled "Left Alone", was recorded in 1959, mere months before the singer's death
He returned to salute the legendary vocalist on several occasions since then, with this recording likely being his final tribute, recorded less than a year before his own death
Waldron, who worked with Holiday during her last years, is intimately familiar with her takes of the six standards heard on this disc, along with her own "Lady Sings The Blues"
Archie Shepp's often gritty tenor sax is reminiscent of the texture of Holiday's voice, yet he perfectly complements Waldron's lush piano
They also pack a punch with their stark performance of "Left Alone" (Shepp's occasional reed squeaks seem deliberate, as if to imitate breaks in her voice)
Waldron also recites Holiday's lyrics set to his composition at the conclusion of the LP
Shepp switches to soprano sax for an emotional take of "Everything Happens To Me" and "I Only Have Eyes for You," with the latter song sounding as if the unheard singer is being ignored by her love interest
Shepp's "Blues For 52nd Street" is both sassy and swinging
This instrumental salute to Billie Holiday is one of the best albums ever to honour her memory
RECORDING Februar 7 and 8 2002 at La Muse en Circuit, Paris
ENGINEERING Philippe Teissier Du Cros
LABEL Enja
RE MASTERING Cicely Baston at Alchemy / Air Mastering
RE RELEASED 2021
AVERAGE RATING 4,75 Stars out of 5
PRESSING by Pallas
MADE IN England / Germany
STYLE Jazz / Modal / Post Bop
AVAILABLE as long as inventory stock
