Billie Holiday CD

This duo present a lot of very strong material that fans of either the Jayhawks or early Train love, beginning with the lovely, melodic and roots-flavored "Feel," which also harkens back to Golden Smog. A slight Latin feel on "40 Years" is odd but manages to flow easily thanks to the keen knack for songwriting partners Derric Oliver and Louis Caverly have. A horn is also thrown in with no harm done. The album takes off on the punchy "Am I Wrong?" which sounds like the Gin Blossoms listening to Tom Petty. It's also contains that good-time, toe-tapping feel of Dire Straits circa "The Bug." The downtrodden songs are just as gorgeous, especially during the gentle, lithe and swaying title tune and the equally impressive "Annie Anymore," the latter recalling a folksy style the Rembrandts could embrace before jamming things out. Things get quite soft and almost hymn-like on the fragile but infectiously melodic "Stop Right There." The true nugget, though, is the adorable "Out on a Limb" which ambles along before both singers take it to be next level. From pop they go into a rather bizarre country tune entitled "The Knot" with some fine banjo and fiddle playing. Another sleeper pick is train-rolling "Annabelle," that eerily sounds like a Jim Cuddy-led Blue Rodeo song. By the time you start to listen to "Her Daze" you wonder why these guys aren't on year-end lists. A gorgeous collection of tunes that would make groups like the Connells envious. ~ Jason MacNeil
This CD includes all of Billie Holiday's Commodore recordings (the master takes but no alternates): four titles from 1939 (including the still haunting "Strange Fruit" and "Fine and Mellow") and the remainder dating from 1944 when Holiday's voice was at its peak. The latter sessions are highlighted by "I'll Get By," "Billie's Blues," "He's Funny That Way" and "I'm Yours." Pianist Eddie Heywood has many sparkling solos on the 1944 selections. This definitive single CD contains music essential for every jazz collection. ~ Scott Yanow