A tribute to Billie Holiday? Which of our lady singers will be up to face such a daunting task?
None! Oh, I see, you've actually got a guy doing it? Does he realise it's Billie not Billy? He does? Well in that case I'll bid you ... oh, it's Jalen? Well, maybe he could cut it ...
And cut it he did!
Jalen N'Gonda has a range that can seemingly cover just about everything in between Paul Robeson and Maria Callas. A couple of weeks back it was Johnny Hartman and this week it's Billie.
To his credit, he didn't attempt to emulate Billie - he hasn't lived long enough to absorb the elements that made Billie sound like she did - but, in his own way, conveyed the spirit of Lady Day. He didn't sing the blues and nor did Billie - she just lived them!
God Bless the Child; You go to my Head; How Deep is the Ocean?; Tenderly; How am I to Know? Big Stuff and I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues - all did Billie proud.
The band also paid tribute with Alec Harper conveying the spirit, if not the sound, of Lester Young on Lover Come Back to me; I Wished on the Moon and What a Little Moonlight Can do.
Tremendous!
Lance
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