Happy Birthday Lady Day

Bluely Noted loves a lot of singers, but Billie remains our favorite, regardless of gender or genre. 

This YouTube clip's metadata isn't correct — it's not just Billie Holiday and Lester Young (though that ought to be reason enough to watch). Joining Lady Day and Prez on CBS' Sound Of Jazz television special on December 8, 1957 were the Hawk, Little Jazz, the Brute and Jeru — Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Ben Webster and Gerry Mulligan. This was an emotional reunion for the estranged Holiday and Young on "Fine And Mellow" and would mark their final appearance together.  Both were in decline — Young so much so, he had to sit during the performance (but rose for his solo). They went their separate ways after the performance and both passed away in 1959.

"Fine And Mellow" (1957)