Abbey Lincoln - Abbey Sings Billie [Disc 1] And [Disc 2]

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:06 [Disc 1]
Size: 131,2 MB [Disc 1]
Time: 40:12 [Disc 2]
Size: 92,3 MB [Disc 2]
Art: Front

[Disc 1]

( 3:18)  1. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
( 2:51)  2. I Only Have Eyes For You
( 5:09)  3. Gloomy Sunday
( 4:27)  4. Crazy He Calls Me
( 6:16)  5. Strange Fruit
( 5:42)  6. Lover Man
( 4:41)  7. These Foolish Things
( 5:20)  8. I'll Be Seeing You
(10:18)  9. Soul Eyes
( 9:01) 10. I'll Wind

Abbey Lincoln's idol has always been Billie Holiday. Although she has never really copied Lady Day and she has long had her own style and sound, the feeling and intensity that Lincoln gives the lyrics she interprets is reminiscent of late-period Holiday. A perfect person to pay tribute to Billie Holiday, Lincoln (on the first of two Enja CDs) is joined by the underrated tenor Harold Vick (who would pass away unexpectedly within a short time after this recording), pianist James Weidman, bassist Tarik Shaha and drummer Mark Johnson for fresh renditions of standards. Mal Waldron's "Soul Eyes" is taken as an instrumental feature for Vick and other highlights include "What a Little Moonlight Can Do," "Strange Fruit," an emotional "I'll Be Seeing You" and a song perfectly suited for Abbey Lincoln's voice: "Crazy He Calls Me." One of the singer's best recordings of the 1980s and a fine complement to the equally rewarding Vol. 2. ~ Scott Yanow   http://www.allmusic.com/album/abbey-sings-billie-vol-1-mw0000315240

Personnel: Abbey Lincoln (vocals); Harold Vick (tenor saxophone); James Weidman (piano); Tarik Shah (bass); Mark Johnson (drums).

Abbey Sings Billie [Disc 1]

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[Disc 2]

(7:02)  1. Gimme A Pigfoot
(6:58)  2. No More
(5:22)  3. God Bless The Child
(6:22)  4. Don't Explain
(5:28)  5. For Heaven's Sake
(3:20)  6. Please Don't Talk About Me (When I'm Gone)
(5:36)  7. For All We Know

Abbey Lincoln is the perfect person to pay tribute to Billie Holiday. She knew Lady Day during her last years and, like Holiday, Lincoln has always lived the words she sings and chosen to only intepret lyrics that have great meaning to her. Her expressive powers have been quite strong throughout her career and there are plenty of dramatic moments on this disc along with its first volume. Tenor-saxophonist Harold Vick, who would die suddenly within days of these sessions, is quite effective as is the supportive rhythm section. Abbey Lincoln shows off her versatility on such diverse numbers as "Gimme a Pigfoot," "Don't Explain" and "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone." ~ Scott Yanow   http://www.allmusic.com/album/abbey-sings-billie-vol-2-mw0000091041

Personnel: Abbey Lincoln (vocals); Harold Vick (tenor saxophone); James Weidman (piano); Tarik Shah (bass); Mark Johnson (drums).

Abbey Sings Billie [Disc 2]

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