Pianist Mal Waldron was Billie Holiday's final regular accompanist and has recorded several tributes to Lady Day through the years. This CD brings back a nine-song solo tribute that consists of eight songs associated with Holiday (including "Don't Blame Me,""You're My Thrill,""Strange Fruit" and "Mean to Me") plus Waldron's "Blues for Lady Day"; the emphasis is on thoughtful (and sometimes a bit downbeat) interpretations at ballad tempoes. The reissue adds two lengthy and unrelated trio improvisations with bassist Henk Haverhoek and drummer Pierre Courbois ("A Little Bit of Miles" and "Here, There and Everywhere") that actually have nothing to do with Lady Day but do feature Mal Waldron coming up with some interesting and fresh ideas. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
01. Blues for Lady Day (Waldron)
02. Just Friends (Klenner, Lewis)
03. Don't Blame Me (Fields, McHugh)
04. You Don´t Know What Love Is (DePaul, Rave)
05. The Man I Love You (Gershwin, Gershwin)
06. You're My Thrill (Lane, Washington)
07. Strange Fruit (Allan)
08. Easy Living (Rainger, Robin)
09. Mean To Me (Ahlert, Turk)
10. A.L.B.O.M. (A Little Bit of Miles)
11. Here, There and Everywhere (Lennon, McCartney)
01. Blues for Lady Day (Waldron)
02. Just Friends (Klenner, Lewis)
03. Don't Blame Me (Fields, McHugh)
04. You Don´t Know What Love Is (DePaul, Rave)
05. The Man I Love You (Gershwin, Gershwin)
06. You're My Thrill (Lane, Washington)
07. Strange Fruit (Allan)
08. Easy Living (Rainger, Robin)
09. Mean To Me (Ahlert, Turk)
10. A.L.B.O.M. (A Little Bit of Miles)
11. Here, There and Everywhere (Lennon, McCartney)
MAL WALDRON piano
Tracks 1 to 9 recorded in Baarn, Holland February 5, 1972 and tracks 10/11 in Lieden, Holland February 9, 1972
Black Lion BLCD760193
Tracks 1 to 9 recorded in Baarn, Holland February 5, 1972 and tracks 10/11 in Lieden, Holland February 9, 1972
Black Lion BLCD760193