Artist: Billie Holiday
Year: 1952
Genre: Vocal Jazz
Grade: A-
How many vocalists can say their voice is totally unique? Billie Holiday stands relatively alone — her affectations and enunciations are one in a million. Even on her debut album, Holiday has tremendous potential energy.
Nobody else has the unique ability that Holiday possesses; able to draw out the final syllable in an all-knowing, almost-annoying, persuasive drawl. Every song — every melody — is memorable just for Holiday’s mannerisms. Though not as technically talented as, say, Ella Fitzgerald (or even Sarah Vaughan), Holiday’s jazzy phrasing possesses more emotion than quite possibly any post-war female singer.
Billie Holiday Sings – Billie Holiday
