I had loved Fine and Mellow ever since I had first started listening to Billy Holiday.
At that time I did not know anything about her and picked her tape just on a whim. I was hooked to it, much to chagrin of my room mates and I continued to explore and learn more Billy even as the tape wore off due to over usage.
This sound can be easily noticed a lot of old bollywood tracks. I guess this was their concept of western and happening music, as rock and roll was yet to arrive in the scene.
Fine and mellow is a regular 12 bar blues which was one reason I gravitated to this song and was one of my earliest Billy Holiday favorite. Sadly I could never find this particular version among all others littered across cyberspace. With time I came to know about the story behind it
Actually this recording came in as a reunion of old swinging stars. A sense of excitement as well as nostalgia is cracking among players. Especially during the second solo by Lester "Prez" Young. Billy doesn't just follow him perfectly she's loving it too .....
Me too :) It's a treat to watch them play together!.
Lester and Billy, their story is a stuff of movies and books. Maybe I'll cover it during next post. ..
