Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and Dinah Washington: three names that resonate because of their contributions as vocalists of power and distinction, yet each one was as different from the other as if they sang separate genres of music. In spite of their differences, they are all three associated with Jazz and Blues and the casual observer would be left thinking their work would be similar in style.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and all it takes is the simple expedient of watching the three women perform one after the other to dispel that erroneous impression. Such an opportunity is presented by a new DVD released by EFOR Films called simply Volume 1 Jazz Voice: The Ladies Sing Jazz. The three aforementioned ladies are featured over the course of an hour singing some of the songs they are best known for. Thrown in as extras: one song by Ethel Waters and the Count Basie Orchestra, and two numbers by the Gene Krupa Band featuring Anita O'Day on vocals.
Billie Holiday was probably the purest blues singer of the three. Although Jazz influences are present in her musical arrangements, it is in her interpretation and presentation of material that the designation of Blues singer is appropriate.
Perhaps because of her life, both before she was a vocalist and during her career, full as it was of poverty, abuse, and drug addiction, she brought that bittersweet element we associate with blues to all of her work. But whatever the reason, there was, and still is, something chillingly mournful about her plaintive sounding tone. This was only accented as her career continued and her voice became harsher from bad living and illness.
The eight clips of Billie Holiday contained in this disc are unfortunately of varying degrees of quality in regards to sound and video. But they are sufficient to give one an idea of the ups and downs in her life. Compare the thin-cheeked, haggard-looking woman who sings on track two through four with a strained voice (the camera even catches her clearing her throat before track three, sounding as if she has pneumonia) to the full-faced woman in the studio singing "Fine and Mellow" with confidence and smiles.
Article comments
1 - Sister Ray
Wow, sounds good. I don't know Dinah Washington's music as well as the others', but it all sounds tempting. Thanks for bringing this DVD to my attention.
2 - Sam Jack
I just want to see a video of Nina Simone singing 'Mississippi Goddamn.' Simone was just an amazing musician, and I prefer her over Holiday and Washington.
3 - Bliffle
Good review. But I must point out that Holliday disliked being called a "blues" singer, insisting her style and intent was jazz.