In 1942, after her contract with Columbia had ended and the first musicians strike looming, Billie Holiday set out to the West Coast making one of her first appearances out in Hollywood (she came out the year before in 1941 to open the West Coast version of Cafe Society).
In June she was at one of Billy Berg's famous clubs, the Trouville with Lester Young and his brother Lee's house band which included a young pianist by the name of Jimmy Rowles. Rowles, who would famously record later with Lady in the 1950s on some of her best records, recounted his first meeting with her: "[She was] one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. Her skin was like satin…flawless. And she was very graceful. …She’d put the record machine on and start dancing around, snapping her fingers. She was just adorable."
It is said that Lana Turner, Bette Davis, and Mel Tormé among others were patrons who stopped by to hear Lady Day sing with the band. Here she sings "Solitude" which is unfortunately incomplete and a hot, swinging version of "I Hear Music" both tunes she had recorded recently within the last year or so for Columbia. I hope you enjoy!
12 сен 2024
