by Scott Yanow
Pianist Mal Waldron was Billie Holiday's final regular accompanist and has recorded several tributes to Lady Day through the years. This CD brings back a nine-song solo tribute that consists of eight songs associated with Holiday (including &Don't Blame Me,& &You're My Thrill,& &Strange Fruit& and &Mean to Me&) plus Waldron's &Blues for Lady Day&; the emphasis is on thoughtful (and sometimes a bit downbeat) interpretations at ballad tempoes. The reissue adds two lengthy and unrelated trio improvisations with bassist Henk Haverhoek and drummer Pierre Courbois (&A Little Bit of Miles& and &Here, There and Everywhere&) that actually have nothing to do with Lady Day but do feature Mal Waldron coming up with some interesting and fresh ideas.