The title A Billie Holiday Songbook on this release by the unconventional American pianist Lara Downes may refer to that of the Gershwin Song-Book for piano composed (or abstracted from his live improvisations) by George Gershwin in 1932. The Gershwin work is probably the nearest point of reference for this collection of piano arrangements of Holiday's hit songs: the textures of most of the pieces are dense, and they depart considerably from the melodies of the originals. Some of them circle back to Holiday by including ...
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The title A Billie Holiday Songbook on this release by the unconventional American pianist Lara Downes may refer to that of the Gershwin Song-Book for piano composed (or abstracted from his live improvisations) by George Gershwin in 1932. The Gershwin work is probably the nearest point of reference for this collection of piano arrangements of Holiday's hit songs: the textures of most of the pieces are dense, and they depart considerably from the melodies of the originals. Some of them circle back to Holiday by including little details that evoke characteristics of her singing. Really, though, the most significant presence on this album is not Holiday or Downes, but composer Jed Distler, who arranged most of the music (one piece is by jazzman Teddy Wilson and another by Marian McPartland). Distler takes the scope of the music beyond what Gershwin did, aligning the arrangements with various classical models according to the mood of the text and of Holiday's singing in each individual piece. The result,...
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April 7, 2015, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great American jazz singer Billie Holiday (1915 -- 1959). The anniversary offers an opportunity to hear, enjoy, and reflect on Billie's music. A new biography has just been published, "Billie Holiday: Musician and Myth" by John Szwed together with several reissues of Holiday's own recordings. But one of the finest tributes to Billie Holiday is this new CD, "A Billie Holiday Songbook" which features 22 of Holiday's songs transcribed for the piano and performed by Lara Downes. Downes is an American pianist of Caribbean and Russian heritage. She has made several recordings combining classical piano with other musical forms. Downes wanted to put together a concert program of Billie Holiday songs and asked Jed Distiller, a noted composer and music critic, to prepare the arrangements. Distiller also wrote the liner notes which offer a brief introduction to Billie Holiday's life and music.
In this form of musical transcription, the songs have to work in their own right on the piano as well as capturing the spirit of Holiday's performances. The songs, of course, were written to be sung and were performed with a variety of supporting musicians. The 22 piano arrangements here are, on the whole, highly successful. They are not simple transcriptions but instead make full use of the resources of the piano to make their own musical statement. In most of these piano versions, the tune of the song is prominent. The theme is embellished by runs, arpeggios, passages in the upper and lower registers of the keyboard, trills and ornaments, and shifts in rhythm, tempo and dynamic shifts. Downes plays with feeling and a subdued, improvisatory touch. I felt at times that I was in a small, smoky club listening to the piano. At other times, I thought I was in a concert or recital hall. Holiday performed in many types of venues from small clubs to Carnegie Hall.
Two of the piano transcriptions are not new, but they are among the highlights of the CD. Teddy Wilson's arrangement of "Blue Moon" is uptempo and fresh while Marian McPartland's arrangement of "Willow Weep for Me" is deep-toned and simple. Distiller's 20 arrangements are offered for the first time on this CD. They are in varied, idiomatic styles which make them effective as independent piano works and as tributes to Billie Holiday. The arrangements of "Billie's Blues" and "The End of a Love Affair" are unusual in that they depart from the melodic line. The arrangements I liked best include Holiday's most famous song, "Strange Fruit" which features ominous, low minor-key chords and a clear melodic line, "Lover Man", with an arpeggiated accompaniment to the haunting tune, "Aint Nobody's Business if I Do", with its feel of honky-tonk, ragtime piano, and "Don't Explain" with the melody framed by minor key harmonies. Many of the remaining arrangements are almost equally enjoyable.
Holiday's own singing made its own irreplaceable contribution to American culture, celebrated in this fusion of classical and jazz styles by Downes and Distiller. This CD is a tribute to Holiday and to the promise and achievement of American music. The CD is lovely in itself and made me want to revisit Billie Holiday for herself. The famous piano manufacturer, Steinway & Sons, recorded this CD and Naxos distributes it. Naxos also kindly sent me a copy for review.
