his five-CD box set, which collects live Billie Holiday recordings made between 1935 and 1959, is a must for Lady Day fanatics. Arranged chronologically, the set begins with a young, energetic Holiday (barely out of her teens) performing with Duke Ellington, and continues straight through to her ragged, sometimes chilling later performances.
The comprehensive set allows the listener to chart Holiday's development as an artist over the decades, providing an up-close, intimate experience that's markedly different from her studio dates. Most of these recordings were previously unavailable, and digital remastering adds a magnificent clarity and precision to the original tapes. As if this weren't enough, the set also comes with a beautiful booklet featuring photos, a timeline, and explanatory notes. LIVE RECORDINGS is a treasure.|
Rovi