This unique and thoughtful compilation brings together four of the best tunes by four of the greatest female jazz singers in history. As a result, listeners can compare and contrast the exuberant joy of
Ella Fitzgerald's "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" and her virtuoso scat showcase "How High the Moon" with the roughened ache of
Billie Holiday's voice in these mid-'50s small-band versions of her signature tunes "God Bless the Child" and "Strange Fruit."
Sarah Vaughan displays equal ease with plush orchestras ("Lush Life," "Misty") and stripped-down bop ("Lover Man," "Lullaby of Birdland"), and all the aforementioned appearances can be measured against
Dinah Washington's apparent ability to sing beautifully in any style thrown at her.