Swing!
Episode 10 – Sirens of Swing: Billie Holiday
Welcome back to another edition of my monthly (and sometimes quarterly) show entitled “Swing!” This episode showcases one of the original sirens of swing, who many proclaim to be the first jazz singer . . . Billy Holiday – aka Lady Day.
We’re a bit overstimulated & jaded in this day and age to hear true innovation – because it seems we’ve heard it all before . . . but when Billie started to swing, no one had ever really heard a woman sing like that before. She improvised like an instrumentalist, created unique phrasings, and set a new standard. This episode covers some of the highlights of her early career from 1933 to 1941 . . . 19 tracks that she sang between the ages of 18 and 26.
Billie Holiday set the stage for many singer who came after her. Jazz, pop, rock & soul singers from Eryka Badu to Jill Scott and Amy Winehouse to Adele continue to incorporate her vocal techniques and style 53 years after her death – although these artist are often touted by critics for their unique and individual sound. Everything old is new again . . . yet we forget the originators, and give credit to those that revive what came before them and call it by new names – such as neo-soul . . . or BAM – but’s it’s all part of a continuum that swings like a pendulum.
Keep those cards & letters coming with your comments, questions, and casserole recipe requests to Scott@SoulandJazz.com or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter by liking or following the Jazz Evangelist!
Agape ya’ll,
J. Scott Fugate, ‘The Jazz Evangelist’
Swing!
Episode 10 – Sirens of Swing: Billie Holiday
Artist – Track – Album – Year
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra God Bless The Child
Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1941
Billie Holiday with Benny Goodman & His Orchestra Your Mothers Son-In-Law The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933
Billie Holiday with Benny Goodman & His Orchestra Riffin The Scotch
The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933
Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra What A Little Moonlight Can Do Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1935
Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra Miss Brown To You
Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1935
Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra Spreadin’ Rhythm Around
Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1935
Billie Holiday Summertime The Quintessential Billie Holiday, Vol. 2 1936
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra Did I Remember?
Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1936
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra Billie’s Blues Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1936
Billie Holiday Me, Myself & I Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1937
Billie Holiday Trav’lin All Alone Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1937
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra Without Your Love
Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1937
Billie Holiday Strange Fruit Ken Burns Jazz 1939
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra Swing! Brother, Swing!
Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1939
Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra Sugar
Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1939
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra St. Louis Blues
Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1940
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra Let’s Do It Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1941
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra All Of Me Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles 1941
Billie Holiday & Louis Armstrong The Blues Are Brewin’ New Orleans: Original Soundtrack 1947
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