Billie Holiday is honored in Lara Downes splendid piano tribute to Lady Day.
There are certain American popular songs that carry the indelible imprint of Billie Holiday, a consummate song interpreter who has provide life- long inspiration to Steinway Artist, Lara Downes. " As a musician, I learned from Billie Holiday to make something personal when you make music," says Lara Downes ,- maybe
something unexpected, something indefinable, perhaps complicated , but beautiful. to take a chance, and if you fall, you fall." ( lyrics from But Beautiful, a song featured on this solo piano tribute to Billie Holiday.)
The song, Body and Soul ,is one of Billie's most iconic performances. Lara Downes, in a stunning arrangement by Jed Distler, offers an arresting interpretation that honors the essence of the well-known standard while exploring some of the hidden corners made possible by the melodic and harmonic twists in this challenging arrangement.
Please listen to Lara Downes mastery of every nuance inherent in both the melody and the lyrics as if a Rachmaninoff had wandered into the recording session to put his own pianistic talents in the service of a great popular song.
You also can listen to Billie Holiday's own version of Body & Soul to see how both the arranger and pianist are now connected to the spiritual essence of this great artist.
Lara Downes piano solo
https://youtu.be/nLvRPOcxk5Uhttps://youtu.be/nLvRPOcxk5U
Billie Holiday version
https://youtu.be/CMDlk6lGQOk
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