All or Nothing At All by Billie Holliday

March 12, 2007 11:36 PM

I think I have a new favorite album.
I’ve been listening to Billie all of my life. Somehow I’d never heard this album. Yes, I knew most of the tunes, and indeed some of these renditions, but this collection itself had escaped me, and hearing it end to end I feel like I’ve rediscovered an old, brilliant friend, captured at the very height of her poignancy.
The recording quality is fantastic, as are the accompaniments, especially, although not exclusively by a magisterial Ben Webster. Hear track 3, Ill Wind, and just shiver.
This album is a must own.

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Posted at 11:36 PM

Comments

Yes, this particular album is just great.

At least two other versions of the song "All or Nothing At All" come to my mind: one of Frank Sinatra's (I remember hearing at least two different versions) and the brilliant rendition by John Coltrane in the "Ballads" album.

As a former jazz musician, one of the things I love the most about this music is looking for different renditions of the same tune. Learning how different musicians work on the same material is one of the things that bring you deeper and deeper into this wonderful music.

Posted by: Mirko Caserta Author Profile Page at March 13, 2007 12:24 AM

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