Billie Holiday - Compact Jazz: Billie Holiday (1987)

Culled from Holiday's mid-'50s recordings on Verve, the 13 tracks here present a fine overview of Holiday's autumnal prime; no rough sides to be found, just cherry-picked swingers ("A Fine Romance") and spot-on ballads ("Ill Wind"). The unadulterated power and easy glee of the '30s is gone, replaced by subtle phrasing and an emotive delivery. And while effortlessly reeling off classic readings of "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" and "Sophisticated Lady," Holiday revels in the company of such heavyweights as Ben Webster, Jimmy Rowles, Harry Eddison, and Barney Kessel. A fine sampler of Holiday's storied late work.

Tracklist:

01. Nice Work If You Can Get It
02. I Hadn't Anyone Till You
03. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
04. I Get A Kick Out Of You
05. Gone With The Wind
06. A Fine Romance
07. Sophisticated Lady
08. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
09. Prelude To A Kiss
10. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
11. Cheek To Cheek
12. I Don't Want To Cry Anymore
13. Ill Wind