Dee Dee Bridgewater
Eleanora Fagan (1917-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee Bridgewater
Emarcy Records
www.umusic.com

Stephanie Nakasian
Billie Remembered: The Classic Songs Of Billie Holiday
Inner City Records
www.musicminusone.com
By George W. Harris

Here are a couple of recent releases showing completely different ways to remember jazz’s most famous female singer.

Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater’s follow-up to her intensely successful Red
Earth is a tribute to the tragically gifted Billie Holiday, who wore
her heart on her sleeve in just about every song she ever put on
record. Bridgewater takes a different approach, having pianist Edsel
Gomez re-arrange most of the Holiday-associated tunes to where there is
absolutely no need for comparison. Bridgewater’s feisty and energetic
approach to tunes like “All Of Me” and “Fine and Mellow” are in
complete contrast to Holiday’s desperation. The top notch band of
Gomez, Christian McBride/b, Lewis Nash/dr and James Carter/reeds is
assertive and enthused; take the snappy intro with Bridgewater and
McBride on “Mother’s Son In Law” or the extroverted “Lover Man.” Carter
is at his best here, being restrained by fetters to his betterment on a
moody “Good Morning Heartache” with his bass clarinet, and ethereal
flute on “Don’t Explain.” The eery “Strange Fruit” is the closest thing
to Holiday-like drama, the rest of the disc is sass and style.

On the completely opposite end of the spectrum, under the radar vocalist Stephanie Nakasian gets together with some kindred spirits to deliver a release that captures the heart and soul of the loose and casual classic Holiday sessions with Teddy Wilson in the 30s. Hod O’Brien/p, Randy Sandke/tp, Harry Allen/ts, Dan Block/as-cl, Marty Grosz/g, Chuck Riggs/dr and Neil Miner/b perfectly capture that easy after hour jam session feel on tunes like “Miss Brown To You” and “I Wished On The Moon.” Preferring soul and feel over clinically technical perfection, Nakasian, while in her own distinctly warm voice, captures the easy livin’ delivery of lyrics that is missing in so many current singers. Allen on tenor is warm and gruff, while Block is Benny Carter suave on the alto, and the rhythm section is Count Basie swinging. Of all the Holiday tributes I’ve ever heard, this is the one I’m going to keep going back to, with its emphasis on heart and soul.