On this excellent CD, one of
Ranee Lee's earliest recordings, the singer pays tribute to
Billie Holiday with renditions of a dozen songs associated with
Lady Day. The Canadian release features
Lee joined by pianist
Oliver Jones, guitarist
Richard Ring,
Richard Beaudet on reeds, veteran bassist
Milt Hinton, and drummer Archie Alleyne; the title cut also includes a string section.
Lee manages to recapture
Holiday's spirit without resorting to mimicry. This tasteful effort has among its highlights "When a Woman Loves a Man," "Crazy He Calls Me," "Easy Living," and "Them There Eyes." Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow