Billie Holiday - Songs for Distingué Lovers (1958) [2018] DSD256

Songs for Distingué Lovers forms part of the last series of extensive small-group recordings that Lady Day would make in the studio. Although her voice was largely shot at this point, she puts so much feeling into the lyrics that it's easy to overlook her dark sound. The band is a major asset, and made up of all-stars: trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, pianist Jimmie Rowles, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Red Mitchell, and Alvin Stoller or Larry Bunker on drums. There are plenty of short solos for Edison, Webster, and Kessel. Holiday does her best on such numbers as "A Foggy Day," "One for My Baby," "Just One of Those Things," and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," and there are plenty of haunting moments, even if one could tell (even at the time) that the end was probably drawing near for the singer.

Tracks:

01. Day In Day Out (6:47)
02. A Foggy Day (4:41)
03. Stars Fell on Alabama (4:31)
04. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) (5:40)
05. Just One of Those Things (5:32)
06. I Didn't Know What Time It Was (6:05)

Personnel:

Vocals – Billie Holiday
Bass – Red Mitchell
Drums – Alvin Stoller
Bass – Joe Mondragon
Drums – Larry Bunker
Guitar – Barney Kessel
Piano – Jimmie Rowles
Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster
Trumpet – Harry "Sweets" Edison