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Billie Holiday and Lester Young

As an Easter treat, Geoffrey Smith selects highlights from the immortal partnership of vocal legend Billie Holiday and her saxophonist soulmate Lester Young, co-creators of some of the greatest recordings of the Swing Era.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 1 Apr 2018 00:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    He Ain't Got Rhythm

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 1.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    This Year's Kisses

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 2.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    Mean To Me

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 7.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    Foolin' Myself

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 9.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    Easy Living

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 10.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    Me, Myself And I

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 12.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    He's Funny That Way

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 21.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    When You're Smiling

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 3.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    Back In Your Own Backyard

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 11.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    The Very Thought of You

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 14.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    I Can't Get Started

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 15.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    The Man I Love

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 1.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young & Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    Laughing at Life

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 5.

  • Billie Holiday & Lester Young

    All of Me

    • The Complete Billie Holiday & Lester Young.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 13.

  • Billie Holiday

    Fine and Mellow

    • Ken Burns Jazz.
    • Verve.
    • 18.

Performers:

  Title:  He Ain't Got Rhythm  
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Berlin 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 02’47
  Performers: Buck Clayton, trumpet; Benny Goodman, clarinet; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Teddy Wilson, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

   Title:  This Year’s Kisses
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Berlin 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 03’06 
  Performers:  Buck Clayton, trumpet; Benny Goodman, clarinet; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Teddy Wilson, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

   Title:  Mean To Me
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Turk/Ahlert 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 03’05 
  Performers: Buck Clayton, trumpet; Buster Bailey, clarinet; Johnny Hodges, alto saxophone; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Teddy Wilson, piano; Allan Reuss, guitar; Artie Bernstein, bass; Cozy Cole, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

   Title:  Foolin' Myself  
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Tinturin/Lawrence 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 02’59 
  Performers: Buck Clayton, trumpet; Buster Bailey, clarinet; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Teddy Wilson, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

   Title:  Easy Living  
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Ralph Rainger/Leo Robin 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 03’00 
  Performers: Buck Clayton, trumpet; Buster Bailey, clarinet; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Teddy Wilson, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

   Title:  Me, Myself and I  
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Gordon/Roberts/Kaufman
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 02’33 
  Performers: Buck Clayton, trumpet; Edmond Hall, clarinet; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; James Sherman, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

   Title:  He’s Funny That Way
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Moret/Whiting 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 02’37 
  Performers:  Buck Clayton, trumpet; Buster Bailey, clarinet; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Claude Thornhill, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

   Title:  When You're Smiling  
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Mark Fisher/Joe Goodwin/Larry Shay 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 02’48
  Performers: Buck Clayton, trumpet; Benny Morton, trombone; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Teddy Wilson, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

   Title:  Back In Your Own Backyard  
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Jolson/Rose/Dreyer 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 02’38
  Performers: Buck Clayton, trumpet; Benny Morton, trombone; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Teddy Wilson, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals

   Title:  The Very Thought Of You  
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Noble
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 2’42 
  Performers: Buck Clayton, trumpet; Dicky Wells, trombone; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Margaret ‘Queenie’ Johnson, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

   Title:  I Can't Get Started  
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Ira Gershwin/Vernon Duke 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 02’49 
  Performers:  Buck Clayton, trumpet; Dicky Wells, trombone; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Margaret ‘Queenie’ Johnson, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.


   Title:  The Man I Love  
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 03’05 
  Performers: Buck Clayton, Harry Edison, trumpet; Earle Warren, Jack Washington, alto saxophone; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Joe Sullivan, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

   Title:  Laughing At Life  
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Kenny/Todd
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration: 02’52 
  Performers: Roy Eldridge, trumpet; Bill Bowen, Joe Eldridge, alto saxophone; Lester Young, Kermit Scott, tenor saxophone; Teddy Wilson, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals

   Title:  All of Me
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: Gerald Marks/Seymour Simons 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration:  03’51 
  Performers: Shad Collins, trumpet; Leslie Johnakins, Eddie Barefield, alto saxophone; Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Eddie Heywood, piano; John Collins, guitar; Ted Sturgis, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.

  Title:  Fine and Mellow
  Artist: Billie Holiday & Lester Young 
  Composers: B. Holiday/M. Gabler 
  Album Title: The Complete Billie Holiday Lester Young 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: 1-54 
  Duration:  08’00
  Performers: Doc Cheatham, Roy Eldridge, trumpet; Vic Dickenson, trombone; Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Gerry Mulligan, baritone saxophone; Mal Waldron, piano; Danny Barker, guitar; Milt Hinton, bass; Osie Johnson, drums; Billie Holiday, vocals.  

 

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Mar 2016 00:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Sun 1 Apr 2018 00:00
    BBC Radio 3

Podcast

  • Geoffrey Smith's Jazz

    Geoffrey Smith's Jazz - a weekly sequence exploring what makes great jazz great music