Lady Day's Live Sessions
Billie
Holiday Discography
Lady Day's Live Sessions
| 1935 | 1937 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 |
| 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | |
| There were no live sessions in 1933, 1934, 1936 and 1938 | |||||||||||
THE COMPLETE COMMENTED LIVE SONGS
Duke Ellington (1899-1974)
Live session #1 [film] New York 12/March/1935 Duke Ellington & his Orchestra
Arthur Whetsol, Freddie Jenkins, Cootie Williams(tp) Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown, Juan Tizol(tb) Marshall Royal(cl & as) Barney Bigard(cl & ts) Johnny Hodges(as) Harry Carney(bs) Duke Ellington(p) Fred Guy(g) Wellman Braud(b) Sonny Greer(d) Billie Holiday (v)
Acting in the film "Symphony in Black", shoot at Paramount Studios in Astoria, Queens. This was the first of 3 films Billie made in her career; the second being "New Orleans" in 1946 (see ahead). Billie never recorded this tune in studio – a rare opportunity to watch her on stage.
, aka Big City Blues.
(LR 1) Saddest Tale
This track can be found in the box set Perfect Complete Collection vol.1or Complete on Columbia (vol.7) and the video in the DVD The Ultimate Collection (see discography).
Film presentation
BH & Count Basie ( taken prob. 1957)
Live Session #2 [radio broadcast] New York, 30/June/1937, Count Basie & His Orchestra
Buck Clayton, Ed Lewis, Bobby Moore (tp) George Hunt, Dan Minor (tb) Earle Warren, R. Jack' Washington (as, bs) Herschel Evans, Lester Young (ts) W. 'Count' Basie(p) Freddie Green(g) Walter Page(b) Jo Jones(d) Billie Holiday(v)
Savoy Ballroom (Harlem); MBS Broadcast by WOR. Savoy Ballroom was a major music and dance place that lasted from the early 1930's to the mid 1940's, located on Lenox Ave. and 141st Street.
Å this is the first time in her career that she is backed by Count Basie. With that Gershwin song, a good match. Buck Clayton takes care of the bridge.
(LR 2) They Can't Take That Away from Me
(LR 3) Swing, Brother, Swing
è The MBS - Mutual Broadcasting System was founded September 15, 1934, to provide programming for radios WOR (New York), WGN (Chicago), WLW (Cincinnati), and WXYZ (Detroit). Mutual was an arrangement among its four founders to share programs produced at the stations. It evolved along the years to a chain of almost 1000 affiliates but ended its activities by 1999. Other similar services were carried at the time by CBS and NBC. WOR NY station was owned by Bamberger Broadcasting Service.
Count Basie (1904-1984)
Live Session # 3 [radio broadcast] New Jersey, 3/November/1937, Count Basie & His Orchestra
Buck Clayton, Ed Lewis, Bobby Moore(tp) Eddie Durham, H.'Benny' Morton, Dan Minor(tb) Earle Warren(as), R. 'Jack' Washington (as,bs) Herschel Evans, Lester Young (ts) W. 'Count' Basie(p) Freddie Green(g) Walter Page(b) Jo Jones(d) Billie Holiday(v)
CBS Broadcast by WOR at the Meadowbrook Lounge, Cedar Grove, NJ. Meadowbrook was one of the premier ballrooms of the dance band era, owned by Frank Dailey (1901-1956) who also led several orchestras.
the complete orchestra is not an usual backing for Billie, but in this case with very pleasant results, despite the poor sound quality of this live track.
(LR 4) I Can't Get Started Å
Track in the box Perfect Complete Collection vol.1or Complete on Columbia, vol.8
Benny Goodman (1909-1986)
Live session #4 [live recording] New York 17/January/1939 Benny Goodman & his Orchestra
Ziggy Elman,Chris Griffin, Cy Baker or Irving Goodman (tp) Red Ballard, Vernon Brown (tb) Hymie Schertzer, Noni Bernardi (as) Jerry Jerome, Art Rollini(ts) Benny Goodman(cl) Jess Stacy(p) Ben Heller(g) Harry Goodman (b) Buddy Schutz(d) Martha Tilton, Johnny Mercer, Billie Holiday and Leo Watson(v)
Camel Caravan Radio Show Broadcast. Camel Caravan was a radio program from 1933 to 1954. The name comes from Camel cigarettes as the show was sponsored by the tobacco company. In that era being sponsored by a tobacco company was relatively common. Several jazz musicians and crooners performed on the show. It had some role in the careers of Benny Goodman, Georgia Gibbs, and Vaughn Monroe (© Wikipedia).
- (LR 5) I Cried for You - A big-band arrangement don't really get the best of Billie.
(LR 6) Jeepers Creepers - This is quite an unusual track, Billie sharing the vocals with 3 other singers. Martha Tilton opens, followed by the tune composer, Johnny Mercer. Billie then takes over and, (according to the announcer) the amazing dr. Leo Watson closes with his characteristic "scats". Billie never recorded it in studio, being this the sole live known register. Some rehearsals can also be found in the Verve collection.
Live session #5 [live recording] New York 1st/April/1939 Frank Newton Orchestra
Frank Newton (tp) Stanley Payne (as) Kenneth Hollon (ts) Kenny Kersey (p) Ulysses Livingston (g) John Williams (b) Eddie Dougherty (d) Billie Holiday (v)
Cafe Society broadcast.
(LR 7) I'm Gonna Lock My Heart
è Café Society was a New York City nightclub opened in 1938 in Greenwich Village by Barney Josephson to showcase African American talent and to be an American version of the political cabarets he had seen in Europe before the war. Josephson also intended the club to defy the pretensions of the rich; he chose the name to mock Clare Booth Luce and what she referred to as "café society", the habitués of more upscale nightclubs. Josephson not only trademarked the name, which had not been trademarked by the gossip columnist for the New York Journal American M, who wrote as the first "Cholly Knickerbocker". but advertised the club as "The Wrong Place for the Right People." Josephson opened a second branch on 58th Street, between Lexington and Park Avenue, in 1940. The club also prided itself on treating both black and white customers equally, unlike many venues, such as the Cotton Club, that featured black performers but barred black customers. The club featured many of the greatest black musicians of the day, from a wide range of backgrounds, often presented with a strongly political bent. Billie Holiday first sang "Strange Fruit" there; at Josephson's insistence, she closed her set with this song, leaving the stage without taking any encores, so that the audience would be left to think about the meaning of the song (© Wikipedia).
BH & Coleman Hawkins (1904-1969)
Live session #6 [radio broadcast] New York 19/December/1940
Hot Lips Page (tp) Charlie Barnet, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young(ts), Teddy Wilson (p), unknown (g)(b)(d), Billie Holiday (v)
WNEW Broadcast.
(LR 8) The Man I Love Å
è WNEW was a radio station in New York, its name meaning The NEWest Thing in Radio. In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a key in the White House, which transmitted an electronic impulse to New York City, which activated a transmitter that put WNEW on the air for the first time.
Billie Holiday ca. 1941
Live Session #7 [live recording] New York, 19/June/1941, Floyd 'Horsecollar' Williams & Band
Floyd Horsecollar Williams (as), unknown (p, b, d), Billie Holiday (voc)
An old music spot, Clark Monroe's Uptown House got this name in 1936, located at 134th Street and 7th Ave. By that time, Billie was close to Jimmy Monroe, Clark's brother, and spent some weeks in the house. There, Jerry Newman recorded these songs on an unknown date.
(LR 9) I Cried For You
(LR 10) Fine And Mellow
Tracks in in the box Perfect Complete Collection vol.1
The Spirits of Rhythm: Teddy Bunn, Douglas Daniels, Wilbur Daniels
Live Session #8 [radio broadcast] Los Angeles, 1st/June/1942, Lee and Lester Young Band
'Red' Mack Morris (t), Lester Young, 'Bump' Myers (ts), Jimmy Rowles (p), Louis Gonzales (g), 'Red' Callender (b), Lee Young (d), The Spirits of the Rhythm, Billie Holiday (v)
Broadcast on station KHJ at the Billy Berg's Trouville Club. Norman Granz (1918-2001), an Ukranian-Jewish descent, was a jazz aficionado and began a long involvement with the music by persuading Billy Berg, a well-known Los Angeles club owner, to allow him to promote a jam session at his club, the Trouville, on Sunday nights. Granz would be closer involved with Billie at a later date, when she started recording for Verve.
(LR 11) I Hear Music - a very bad sound quality, probably resulting from an amateur recording.
(LR 12) Solitude - the track was not entirely recorded.
These tracks can be find in the CD Rare Tracks From The BHD, vol.1 (1937-1944)
KHJ station - Los Angeles
è Founded in 1922 and owned by The Los Angeles Times, KHJ station was in 1949 merged into RKO.
Henry 'Red' Allen (1906-1967)
Henry Allen SextetLive session #9 [radio broadcast] Los Angeles 10/April/1943
Henry 'Red' Allen(t), J.C. Higginbotham (tb), Don Stovall (as), Alfred Williams(p), Benny Moten (b), Alvin Burroughs (d), Billie Holiday (v)
On March and April Billie performed at Club 331 in LA backed by the Red Allen Band. In some dates on March the AFRS (Armed Forces Radio Service) "Jubilee" Transcription Program # 17 was recorded live in the NBC Studios in Hollywood, and dubbed March 22. The broadcast took place on April 9 or 10, as they were normally transmitted on a Friday night. In the same program, tracks by Red Allen Sextet and Art Tatum Trio.
(LR 13) Trav'lin' Light -
(1)
(2)
(1) with Art Tatum at the Metropolitan (2) Tatum, Catlett & Pettiford after changing gown
Live Session #10 [live recording] New York, 18/January/1944 Metropolitan Opera House, All-Star Jam Band
Roy Eldridge (tp) Jack Teagarden (tb) Coleman Hawkins (ts) Barney Bigard (cl) Art Tatum (p) Al Casey (g) Oscar Pettiford (b) Sidney Catlett (d) Billie Holiday (v)
This session celebrate a very special evening - this was her first presentation in a major concert hall and those lucky enough to have concert tickets saw her become the first black woman to sing on stage at the Metropolitan. The show was the "Esquire" magazine's All-American First Annual Jazz Concert and there Billie was presented with the 1943 female vocalist of the year. The show was partially broadcast.
- (LR 14) Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me Å the track starts with Leonard Feather: "now presenting our first vocal star of the evening, incomparable, all-american, girl-singer, miss Billie Holiday" . After the audience applause Eldridge opens and does the obbligati. It is a pleasure to hear Billie's voice so clear.
- (LR 15) Billie's Blues Å the slow tempo track is almost ruined by Catlett out-of-mood interventions (actually, same in the previous track) and the loud comments behind also don't help, making the audience laugh. Billie do not get disturbed, though.
(LR 16) I'll Get By ÅÅ this part of the show is broadcast and, after Feather's presentation of Billie and Eldridge, she carries this short balanced track with no bridge (and a black gown).
Noble Sissle (1889-1975) The Apollo Theater, Harlem
Live session #11 [radio broadcast] New York 24/May/1944 Noble Sissle And His Band
Unknown Personnel (big band) Billie Holiday (v)
WMCA broadcast from the Apollo Theatre.
(LR 17) Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me Å
è The Apollo Theater is one of the most famous clubs for popular music in the United States, and certainly the most famous club associated almost exclusively with African-American performers.
Located at 253 W. 125th Street in Harlem, the best-known black neighborhood in New York City and probably the country, the Apollo grew to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance of the pre-World War II years. In 1934, it introduced its regular Amateur Night shows. It is now run by a nonprofit organization, the Apollo Theater Foundation Inc. (© Wikipedia)
Roy Eldridge (1911-1989)
Live session #12 [radio broadcast] New York 25/June/1944
Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers (t) Vick Dickenson, Benny Morton (tb) Edmond Hall (cl) Ben Webster (ts) Art Tatum (p) Al Casey (g) Slam Stewart (b) Arthur Trappier (d) Billie Holiday (v)
WMCA broadcast of the #17 program in the series New World A' Coming, The Story Of Negro Music. The series was transmitted from 1944 to1957, in a total of 70 Sunday episodes. Narrated by African-American actor Canada Lee it also features that day Josh White and the Hall Johnson Choir. NWA'C was a politically incisive program on racial issues.
- (LR 18) Fine And Mellow Å
(LR 19) All Of Me Å
è WMCA radio station from New York first went on the air on February 6, 1925, broadcasting from the McAlpin Hotel. In 1943 it was acquired by the Straus family.
Live session #13 [radio broadcast] New York 6/December/1944 Hot Lips Page and His Band
Unknown Personnel (big band) Billie Holiday (v)
WMCA Apollo Theatre Broadcast (see comments on previous two sessions)
(LR 20) I'll Be Seeing You Å
Duke Ellington (1899-1974)
Live session #14 [radio broadcast] Los Angeles 1st/January/1945 Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Shelton Hemphill, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance(t) Lawrence Brown, Claude Jones, Joe Nanton(tb) Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick(as) Jimmy Hamilton(cl)(ts) Al Sears(ts) Harry Carney(bs) Billy Strayhorn(p) Fred Guy(g) Junior Raglin(b) Hillard Brown(d) Billie Holiday(v)
California Philharmonic Auditorium, "Esquire" magazine Second Annual Jazz Concert
(LR 21) Lover Man
(LR 22) I Cover The Waterfront Å
è "Esquire" is a magazine for men, founded in 1933.
Howard McGhee (1918-1987)
Live session #15 [live recording] New York 12/February/1945 Jazz At The Philharmonic (Clef)
Howard McGhee (t) unknown (tb) Willie Smith (as) Illinois Jacquet, Wardell Gray and/or Charly Ventura (ts) Milt Raskin(?) (p) Dave Barbour? (g) Charles Mingus (b) Dave Coleman (d) Billie Holiday (v)
The Jazz at the Philharmonic Concert, on California Philharmonic Auditorium, was partially recorded.
(LR 23) Body And Soul ÅÅ
(LR 24) Strange Fruit
è Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) was the title of a series of concerts produced by Norman Granz (see note on session #8). The first concert was held in 1944 in Los Angeles. After a few more similar concerts in LA, Granz began producing annual tours in 1946. Granz recorded many of these concerts and leased them to Mercury Records and later to his own labels, Clef and Verve. JATP ceased touring the United States in 1957.
è In October, Sadie, Billie’s mother, 50, is hospitalized and passed away on the 6th.
Hot Lips Page (1908-1954)
Live session #16 [radio broadcast] New York 15/December/1945 Hot Lips Page and his Band
Hot Lips Page (t), Ram Ramirez (p), others unknown, Billie Holiday (v)
WMCA broadcast
- (LR 25) Fine And Mellow
(LR 26) All Of Me
Live session #17 [live recording] New York 27/May/1946 Jazz At The Philharmonic (Clef)
Buck Clayton (tp) ?(tb) Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet and Lester Young (ts) Ken Kersey (p) JohnCollins or Tiny Grimes (g) Curley Russell (?) (b) J.C. Heard (d) Billie Holiday (v)
Jazz at the Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall (see note on session #15)
- (LR 27) I Cried For You
- (LR 28) Fine And Mellow Å
(LR 29) He's Funny That Way
è
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert house in New York, located at Seventh Avenue between 56th and 57th Street. Built by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1890, it is one of the most famous theaters for classical and popular music in the United States.
Live session #18 [live recording] New York 3/June/1946 Jazz At The Philharmonic (Clef)
Joe Guy (tp) Georgie Auld (as) Illinois Jaquet and Lester Young (ts) Ken Kersey (p) Tiny Grimes (?)(el.g) Al McKibbon (b) J.C. Heard (d) Billie Holiday (v)
Jazz at the Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall
- (LR 30) The Man I love Å1/2
- (LR 31) Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You Å
- (LR 32) All Of Me ÅÅ
(LR 33) Billie's Blues
New Orleans picture scenes
Live Session #19 [film] Hollywood, 11/September/1946 Louis Armstrong And His Hot Six
Hal Roach Studios, Culver City, film New Orleans
Only Charlie Beal (p)
Å the slow tempo, backed only by the piano, is very pleasant.
(LR 34) Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?
Louis Armstrong (tp) Edward "Kid" Ory (tb) Barney Bigard (cl) Charlie Beal (p) Bud Scott (g) George "Red" Callender (b) "Zutty" Singleton (d) Billie Holiday (v) & Choir
(LR 35) Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans? Å both tracks were sang only by Billie. In the next year, however, she shared same song with Louis Armstrong in a Carnegie Hall concert (see LR #46). Many fans confuse those two sessions.
(LR 36) Farewell To Storyville
Louis Armstrong, Robert Butler, Louis Gray, Fats Ford, Ed Mullins(tp) "Big Chief" Russell Moore, Waddet Williams, Nat Allen, James Whitney(tb) Don Hill, Amos Gordon(as) Joe Garland, John Sparrow(ts) Ernst Thompson(bs) Earl Mason(p) Elmer Warner(g) Arvell Shaw(b) Edmund McConney(d) Billie Holiday (v)
(LR 37) The Blues Are Brewin'
Billie, Louis Armstrong, Barney Bigard and Woody Herman orchestra would take part in the set. The film opened in early 1947.
Louis Armstrong and Billie
Live session #20 [live recording] Los Angeles 7/October/1946 Jazz At The Philharmonic (Clef)
Howard McGhee(?) (tp) Trummy Young (tb) Illinois Jacquet(?) (ts) Ken Kersey(?) (p) Charly Drayton (b) Jack Mills (d) Billie Holiday (v)
Shrine Auditorium
Only (tb), (p), (b)
- (LR 38) Trav'lin' Light
Full Band
(LR 39) He's Funny That Way Å
è The Shrine Auditorium was founded in 1906 and built by the membership of the Al Malaikah Temple (city of angels in Arabic). The Temple is governed by an elected Divan, composed of the Potentate, Chief and Assistant Rabbans, High Priest and Prophet, Oriental Guide, Treasurer and Recorder.
Live session #21 [radio broadcast] New York 13/January/1947 Arthur Godfrey Show
Bobby Tucker (p), Billie Holiday (v)
"Arthur Godfrey Time" Show, broadcast via CBS. Billie was also interviewed in the program.
(LR 40) The Man I Love Å
è Arthur Godfrey (1903 –1983) was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer. Born in New York, he joined CBS in 1945 were he was given his own daily program, Arthur Godfrey Time, a Monday-Friday morning radio show.
At Carnegie Hall, with Louis Armstrong
Live session #22 [live recording] New York 8/February/1947 Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra
Louis Armstrong, Thomas Grinder, Chiefy Scott, Ed Mullins, Bob Butler (tp) Russell Moore, Alton Moore, James Whitney(tb) Arthur Dennis, Amos Gordon(as) Joe Garland, Lucky Thompson(ts) John Sparrow(bs) Earl Mason(p) Elmer Warner(g) Arvell Shaw(b) Sid Catlett(d) Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday (v)
Billie appears as an unexpected guest at Louis Armstrong's Carnegie Hall Concert to fill the gap caused by Earl Hines, tied up in Nashville by bad weather. The audience seems to like her singing.
- (LR 41) Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans ÅÅ Armstrong sings the first and second chorus, and Billie takes over with perfection, to audience's delight. A rare, and delicious, duet in her discography.
Only Bobby Tucker (p) and Billie Holiday (v)
(LR 42) Don't Explain ÅÅ She introduces the song personally: "thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, and now I'd like to sing a song, that I wrote, its title is Don't Explain". A beautiful rendering backed only by Tucker's piano.
Live Session #23 [live recording] New York, 24/May/1947 Jazz At The Philharmonic
Bobby Tucker (p) Billie Holiday (v)
Carnegie Hall Concert
(LR 46) I Cover The Waterfront Å
è
A few weeks later, Joe Glaser, her manager, arranged for her to enter a clinic in New York for a session of detoxification. She would stay there for three weeks, passing there her 32nd birthday. However, she would resume using drugs in the following weeks.Under investigation by the narcotics agency, she was charged and sentenced to a year in the Federal Reformatory for Women at Alderson, West Virginia in May 28th, 1947. She got addicted in the early forties smoking opium and evolved to heroin through her husband Jimmy Monroe and her current boyfriend Joe Guy. For this reason Billie lost forever her cabaret card, without what she could not work in any jazz club in New York. This was a tremendous setback in her career.
Billie at Carnegie Hall
On Saturday, March 27, 1948 Billie performed two concerts at Carnegie Hall backed by Bobby Tucker and trio. Unfortunately, sessions were not recorded and we only have the pictures above. Notice that in the intermission she changed the black dress by a light blue one and sang 30 numbers each presentation. Among them, classics like I Cover The Waterfront, Don't Explain, All Of Me and Fine And Mellow. Maybe, in the future, someone will find the lost recording...
Lionel Hampton (1908 - 2002)
Live session #24 [radio broadcast] New York 7/July/1948 Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra
Ben Kynard (cl) Bobby Tucker (p) Charles Mingus (b) Earl Walker (d) Billie Holiday (v) plus full band at the end
Majestic Theater, Radio Broadcast
(LR 47) I Cover The Waterfront Å1/2
Live Session [radio broadcast] Los Angeles, 15/December/1948, Red Norvo Orchestra
Recorded at Billy Berg’s Club in Hollywood, this session went on air only in June, 1949 in the Gene Norman’s Just Jazz radio show. (see below session #26)
è In May, 1949 she was arrested again for narcotics possession and went to trial in San Francisco, June 1st. This time she was acquitted, telling a story that it belonged to her boyfriend, John Levy. In the meantime, she appeared in a couple of live presentations.
Live session #25 [live recording] Los Angeles 27/May/1949
Unknown(p) and Other Instruments, Billie Holiday (v)
Babs Gonzales Party. Private Recording.
- (LR 48) That Old Devil Called Love -
(LR 49) I'll Be Seeing You -
è
Babs Gonzales (1919-1980) a limited but enthusiastic singer, Babs Gonzales did what he could to popularize bop. He had brief stints with Charlie Barnet and Lionel Hampton, and then led his own group during 1946-1949.
Red Norvo (L) & Barney Kessel
Live Session #26 [radio broadcast] Los Angeles, June/1949, Red Norvo Orchestra
Neal Hefty (tp) Herbie Harper (tb) Herbie Steward (ts)(cl) Jimmy Rowles (p) Iggy Shevak (b) Blinkie Garner (d) Billie Holiday (v)
Recorded at Billy Berg’s Club in Hollywood (see note at session #8), this session went on air only in June, 1949 in the Gene Norman’s Just Jazz radio show. She sang 10 songs in the show. This is the merit of this session: it was the one where Billie sang the most previously unrecorded songs in a live presentation.
Full Band
Trio: Hefty (p) Shevak (b) e Garner (d)
(LR 53) I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone
è Gene Norman owned and operated the legendary Hollywood jazz club known as the Crescendo during the 1940's. As a rising DJ on radio KFWB during that same period, he was considered the most popular and knowledge radio man of the time and regularly associated with the biggest names in the history of jazz. He was also the founder of GNP Crescendo recording label.
Live session #27 [TV broadcast] New York 27/August/1949 Eddie Condon and His Band
Oran "Hot Lips" Page (tp), Horace Henderson (p), Jack Lesberg (b), George Wettling (d), Billie Holiday (v)
Eddie Condon Floor Show, NBC TV Program
- (LR 60) Keeps On A Rainin' Å -
è Eddie Condon (1904-1973) was a jazz guitarist, being one of the first musicians to appear on television. Later he joined NBC where he presented, in the late 40s, one of the earliest television series, the Eddie Condon Floor Show. For more then 20 years, starting in 1945, he also ran his own nightclub in the Greenwich Village, the Howdy Club.
Live session #28 [TV broadcast] New York 3/September/1949 Eddie Condon and His Band
Horace Henderson (p), Eddie Condon (g), Peanuts Hucko (cl), Jack Lesberg (b), George Wettling (d), Billie Holiday (v)
Eddie Condon Floor Show, NBC TV Program
(LR 63) Billie's Blues (I Love My Man) ÅÅ
Live session #29 [TV broadcast] New York 10/September/1949
Oran "Hot Lips" Page (tp), Horace Henderson (p), Unknown (b),(d) & (g), Billie Holiday (v)
Art Ford Show, television broadcast
(LR 67) All Of Me Å
Live session #30 [radio broadcast] New York 24/May/1950 Nono Morales Band
Unknown Personnel, Billie Holiday (v)
The Amateur Hour at the Apollo Theatre, Harlem. Broadcast by WMCA.
(LR 68) You're My Thrill -
è Nono Morales was a Cuban bandleader and composer. The amateur night was an institution at the Apollo Theater every Wednesday. At 11pm, the Amateur Hour starts, and it was frequently broadcast. Not to confuse with The Original Amateur Hour, a radio program in the 30s and 40s and later on television.
Session #31: Billie and Count Basie Sextet
Live session #31 [film] Hollywood 19/August/1950 Count Basie and his Sextet
Clark Terry (t) Buddy DeFranco (cl) Wardell Gray (ts) Count Basie (p) Freddie Green (g) Jimmy Lewis (b) Gus Johnson (d) BH (v)
The session is part of a musical movie short featuring Count Basie, Billie Holiday and Sugar Chile Robinson, shot at the Universal Studios in Hollywood. The two songs do not deserve any special comments.
- (LR 69) God Bless The Child
- (LR 70) Now or Never -
Live session #32 [live recording] Los Angeles 25/September/1950 Lee Young Band
Parr Jones (t) Maxwell Davis (ts) Dudley Brooks (p) Bill Hadnott (b) Lee Young (d) Billie Holiday (v)
The session – with two known tracks - was probably (privately) recorded in the Oasis Bar in LA.
- (LR 71) You Got to Show Me – a Billie Holiday composition; she never recorded it in studio (actually, this is the sole known rendition of this song).
- (LR 72) Crazy He Calls Me -
BH at Storyville
Live Session #33 [radio broadcast] Boston, 28/October/1951 Storyville Club
George Wein (1925 - ) founded his first Storyville Club on late 40s, moving to several locations in Boston. This time, in the Copley Square Hotel. He also organized famous festivals like The Newport Jazz. Billie had other two sessions recorded at Storyville: in 1953 (see LR #36) and 1959 (see LR #67) - this to be her last presentation.
Stan Getz (ts) Buster Harding (p) John Fields (b) Marquis Foster (d) Billie Holiday (v)
October 28
(LR 73) Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do Å
(LR 74) Lover Come Back To Me Å
(LR 75) Detour Ahead
(LR 76) You're Driving Me Crazy
Buster Harding (p) John Fields (b) Marquis Foster (d) Billie Holiday (v) Nat Henthoff (announcer)
October 29
(LR 77) He's Funny That Way Å this and following track are announced by Nat Henthoff and recorded in the tracks.
(LR 78) Billie's Blues - Billie's voice sounds childish.
October 31
(LR 79) Miss Brown To You
November 1st
(LR 80) Billie's Blues Å
(LR 81) Lover Man Å
(LR 82) Them There Eyes
(LR 83) My Man Å
(LR 84) I Cover The Waterfront
(LR 85) Crazy He Calls Me Å
(LR 86) Lover Come Back To Me Å
(LR 87) Detour Ahead –
(LR 88) Strange Fruit
(LR 89) Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do Å
(LR 90) All Of Me
(LR 91) Porgy
(LR 92) Miss Brown To You
BH and Charlie Parker at Carnegie Hall
Live Session #34 [live recording] New York, 14/November/1952 Duke Ellington Orchestra (?)
Jimmy Hamilton (cl) Laverne 'Buster' Harding (p) Ray Nance (violin) John Fields (b) Marquis Foster(d) Billie Holiday (v)
Recorded at Carnegie Hall in a Concert commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Duke Ellington in the music business. Also in the program Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Ahmad Jamal and Stan Getz. A series of songs have been recorded.
First Concert (8:15pm)
(LR 93) My Man
(LR 94) Fine And Mellow Å
Second Concert (11:45pm)
(LR 95) I Cover The Waterfront Å
(LR 96) Lover Come Back To Me Å
at Apollo Theater
Live Session #35 [radio broadcast] New York, 10/December/1952 Johnny Hodges Band
Tony Scott (cl) Buster Harding (p) Others unknown, Billie Holiday (v)
The Amateur Hour at the Apollo Theatre, broadcast via WMCA
(LR 97) My Man -
(LR 98) Tenderly Å
George Wein
Live Session #36 [radio broadcast] Boston, 6/October/1953 Storyville Club
Carl Drinkard (p) Jimmy Woode (b) Peter Littman (d) Billie Holiday (v)
Presentation is introduced by jazz DJ John McClellan from Storyville Club located at Copley Square Hotel and Billie is announced by George Wein himself.
first McClellan intro
(LR 99) I Cover The Waterfront Å – the audience respectfully applauded, but Billie's voice is failing; this won't be a memorable presentation.
(LR 100) Too Marvelous For Words
(LR 101) Porgy – the funereal tempo does not help at all.
(LR 102) Them There Eyes – at least, this swung tempo brings some air.
(LR 103) Willow Weep For Me – there's a small chat at the track beginning. The tempo gets very slow and it ends in a lament.
second McClellan intro
(LR 104) I Only Have Eyes For You - Billie's voice is even worse after the break, undulating and failing.
(LR 105) You Go To My Head – in a very low tempo, almost a cappella rendering.
Live session #37 [TV broadcast] New York 16/October1953 Carl Drunkard's Trio
Prob. Jimmy Raney (g), Carl Drinkard (p), ? (b), Peter Litman (d)
George Jessel's "The Comeback Story" TV program on ABC primetime started on October 2nd, 1953 and was last aired on June 1st, 1954. The series was about people who had success, but had tough times, and that were helped to a "comeback". Not a surprise it didn't last long. George introduces Billie, remembering her narcotics problems in 1947.
- (LR 106) God Bless The Child -
Billie Holiday made her first European tour in January, 1954 as part of a Jazz Club USA group with Buddy De Franco quartet and Red Norvo trio, playing some 40 concerts in 30 days. Leonard Feather was the organizer.è
Complete European scheduling (marked in yellow, the recorded shows)
| Jan10 | fly to Stockholm | Jan21 | Düsseldorf, Germany | Feb01 | Paris, France |
| Jan 11 | Stockholm | Jan22 | Cologne, Germany | Feb02 | Geneva, Swiss |
| Jan12 | 2nd show in Stockholm | Jan23 | Amsterdam, Holland | Feb03 | Zurich, Swiss |
| Jan13 | Uppsala, Sweden | Jan24 | Brussels, Belgium | Feb04 | Basel, Swiss (last show) |
| Jan14 | Örebro, Sweden | Jan25 | Frankfurt, Germany | Feb05 | Mars Club in Paris |
| Jan15 | Gothemburg, Sweden | Jan26 | US Army Camp, Germany | Feb06 | Ringside Club, Paris |
| Jan16 | Oslo, Norway | Jan27 | Munich, Germany | Feb08 | fly to London |
| Jan17 | Marmö, Sweden | Jan28 | Stuttgart, Germany | Feb12 | Free Trade Hall, Manchester |
| Jan18 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Jan29 | Nuremberg, Germany | Feb13 | Astoria Ballroom, Nottingham |
| Jan19 | Hamburg, Germany | Jan30 | -rest- | Feb14 | Royal Albert Hall, London |
| Jan20 | Berlin, Germany | Jan31 | The Hague, Holland | Feb19 | fly back to NY |
Billie in Cologne: Mitchell, DeFranco, Norvo, Billie
Live Session #38 [live recording] Cologne, Germany, 22/January/1954 Jazz Club USA
Jazz Club USA
Carl Drinkard Trio: Carl Drinkard (p) Jimmy Woode (b) Peter Littman (d) Billie Holiday (v)
(LR 107) Bilie's Blues (I Love My Man)
(LR 108) What A Little Moonlight Can Do –
Jam Session Group: Buddy DeFranco (cl) Red Norvo (vb) Beryl Booker (p) Red Mitchell (b) Elaine Leighton (d) Billie Holiday (v)
(LR 109) Lover Come Back To Me
Billie in Stockholm (January 12)
Live Session #39 [live recording] Bruxelles, Belgium, 24/January/1954 Jazz Club USA
Carl Drinkard Trio: Carl Drinkard (p) Red Mitchell (b) Elaine Leighton (d) Billie Holiday (v)
Jazz Club USA
(LR 110) He's Funny That Way Å
(LR 111) All Of Me Å
(LR 112) My Man Å
(LR 113) Them There Eyes
(LR 114) Don't Explain Å
(LR 115) I Cried For You
(LR 116) Fine And Mellow Å
(LR 117) What a Little Moonlight Can Do T
A rare "black all-girl band", the Beryl Booker Trio was formed by Bonnie Wetzel, bass; Elaine Leighton, drums and Beryl Booker, piano. The two latter took part in this Jazz Club USA
Live session #40 [live recording] Basilea, Swiss 04/February/1954 Jazz Club USA
Mustermesse, Basilea, Swiss two jam sessions, with extended recording time, historical tracks.
Carl Drinkard Trio: Carl Drinkard (p) Red Mitchell (b) Elaine Leighton (d) Billie Holiday (v)
- (LR 118) Blue Moon
- (LR 119) All Of Me Å
- (LR 120) My Man Å
- (LR 121) Them There Eyes
- (LR 122) I Cried For You
- (LR 123) What A Little Moonlight Can Do
- (LR 124) I Cover The Waterfront
Buddy DeFranco (cl) Red Norvo (vb) Beryl Booker & Sonny Clark (p) Jimmy Raney (g) Red Mitchell (b) Elaine Leighton (d) Billie Holiday (v)
(11’39") ÅÅÅ from the very beginning, we notice that we are at an exciting environment, with the piano in staccato, the clarinet in obbligato and an special swing. In the bridge, the solo by DeFranco - a bit too long - is followed by Red Norvo, introducing the vibraphone in Billie’s recordings; in the sequence, Jimmy Raney, Sonny Clark – the best of them all – and Mitchell complete the band’s round. Billie comes back for the final chorus. Excellent.
- (LR 125) Billie’s Blues
(LR 126) Lover Come Back To Me (6’46") ÅÅ this jam session, in a faster tempo than the preceding track, gives more room for the band to improvise. Billie slows the tempo in the final chorus after a band’s break.
Live Session #41 [live recording] Europe, January/February/1954 Jazz Club USA
Carl Drinkard Trio: Carl Drinkard (p) Red Mitchell (b) Elaine Leighton (d) Billie Holiday (v)
Those tracks are considered to be recorded during the tour, at unknown locations. (tracks #133 and #134 possibly in Paris).
(LR 127) Nice Work If You Can Get It Å
(LR 128) Willow Weep For Me Å
(LR 129) I Only Have Eyes For You
(LR 130) God Bless The Child
(LR 131) Please Don't Talk About Me
(LR 132) Billie's Blues (I Love My Man)
(LR 133) All Of Me
(LR 134) Willow Weep For Me
Live at Royal Albert Hall
Live Session at Royal Albert Hall, London 14/February/1954
Billie sings 15 songs accompanied by Carl Drinkard and trio. Unfortunately, those tracks were not recorded.
Live Session #42 [live recording] New York, 25/September/1954 Count Basie Orchestra
W.Culley, R.Jones, Thad Jones, Joe Newman(t) H.Coker, B.Hughes, B.Powell(tb) M.Royal(as/cl) E.Wilkins(as/ts) F. Wess(ts/fl) F.Foster(ts) C.Fowlkes(bs) Freddie Green(g) Memry Midget(p) Eddie Jones(b) Gus Johnson(d) Billie Holiday(v)
Recording session at the JATP at Carnegie Hall with the Birdland All-Stars. Sarah Vaughan also took part.
(LR 135) All Of Me Å
(LR 136) Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do
(LR 137) Lover Come Back To Me
(LR 138) My Man
(LR 139) Them There Eyes
(LR 140) Lover Man
è Charlie Parker (1920-1955) famous saxophonist and composer, nicknamed "Bird". The famous New York nightclub Birdland, temple of so many jazz performers, founded in 1949, was named after him.
Live Session #43 [TV Broadcast] New York, 8/February/1955 Skitch Henderson House Band
Carl Drinkard (p), Billie Holiday (v) Others Unknown
Broadcast by NBC at the Steve Allen Tonite Show (aired from 1954 to 1957).
(LR 141) My Man Å
(LR 142) Them There Eyes
(LR 143) Lover Man
Live Session #44 [live recording] New York, 6/May/1955
Count Basie (org), Lester Young (ts), Buck Clayton (tp), Bobby Tucker (p), Eddie Jones (b), Buddy Rich (d), Billie Holiday (v)
Recorded by Norman Granz at the Carnegie Hall on Lighthouse Jazz & Variety Concert.
(LR 144) Stormy Weather -
è Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit organization, founded 1905, that helps people of all ages who are at risk for, or are experiencing, vision loss.
Live Session #45 [TV Broadcast] New York, 10/February/1956 Skitch Henderson House Band
prob. Doc Severinsen (tp), Al Klink (as), Lou McGarity (tb), Corky Hale (p) Billie Holiday (v)
Broadcast by NBC at the Steve Allen Tonite Show (aired from 1954 to 1957).
(LR 145) Ghost Of A Chance Å
(LR 146) Please Don't Talk About Me
Live Session #46 [radio broadcast] New Jersey, 29/August/1956
Prob. Carl Drinkard (p), Unknown (b), (d) Billie Holiday (v)
Recorded from the Red Hill Inn at Pennsauken, New Jersey. Program Bandstand USA, radio Broadcast
(LR 147) Willow Weep For Me
(LR 148) I Only Have Eyes For You
(LR 149) My Man Å
(LR 150) Please Don't Talk About Me Å
Stars of Jazz
Live Session #47 [TV broadcast] Los Angeles, 13/September/1956 Stars Of Jazz Show
Corky Hale (p), Jules Bertaux (b), Robert Neel (d) Billie Holiday (voc)
Stars of Jazz was a showcase for jazz music, hosted by Bobby Troup, a jazz pianist and songwriter. The show was aired weekly from 1956 till the end of 1958 on KABC in Los Angeles. He is the composer of "Route 66" and was married to the great vocalist Julie London. The three songs were broadcast – and videotaped! – a rarity in BH discography. You can't miss that, it's pure emotion.
(LR 151) Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone Å
(LR 152) Billie’s Blues Å
(LR 153) My Man Å all of them, specially the latter, deserve the stars due the exceptional rendering of the songs.
Live Session #48 [radio broadcast] Washington, 27/October/1956
Prob. Carl Drinkard (p), Unknown (b), Eddie Phyfe (d) Billie Holiday (v)
This is a radio broadcast in Olivia Davis's Patio Lounge, one of the leading jazz clubs in Washington.
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