Trading in the loose combo swing of her Columbia recordings for some sophisticated charts by
Sy Oliver and
Gordon Jenkins,
Billie Holiday cut some of her best sides while at Decca during the latter half of the '40s. And even though Decca's own two-disc
Complete Recordings set is highly recommended, this single volume still offers a fine overview for those not quite ready to fully commit. The absence of "God Bless the Child" notwithstanding, the mix covers most of
Lady Day's Decca highlights, including "Deep Song," "Big Stuff," "Porgy," and her own "Don't Explain." There's also some quality duet work with
Louis Armstrong and fine contributions from clarinetist
Edmond Hall, trumpeter
Billy Butterfield, and guitarist
Mundell Lowe. A fine and generous sampling of
Holiday at her peak. ~ Stephen Cook