This is a rather incredible collection: ten CDs enclosed in a tight black box that includes every one of the recordings Verve owns of
Billie Holiday, not only the many studio recordings of 1952-57 (which feature
Lady Day joined by such jazz all-stars as trumpeters
Charlie Shavers and
Harry "Sweets" Edison, altoist
Benny Carter, and the tenors of
Flip Phillips,
Paul Quinichette and Ben Webster). Also included are prime performances at Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts in 1945-1947, an enjoyable European gig from 1954, her "comeback" Carnegie Hall concert of 1956,
Holiday's rather sad final studio album from 1959, and even lengthy tapes from two informal rehearsals. It's a perfect purchase for the true
Billie Holiday fanatic. ~ Scott Yanow