Billie Holiday, "Fine And Mellow"

This is generally acknowledged as the greatest jazz moment ever broadcast on national television. And with good reason. Billie Holiday is joined by an all-star band and delive

rs a deeply felt version of "Fine and Mellow." This was a song that Holiday seemed to sing better with the pas

sing years - not a claim one could make for most of her repertoire. But this is a world-weary composition, and no lady was more worldly or weary than Billie Holiday, circa 1957. Lester Young delivers a t

ouching solo that even moves the vocalist. His TV studio reunion with Holiday may have inspired him, but I have a hunch that the proximity of Coleman Hawkins and Ben W

ebster in the room (these being the real three tenors by the measure of any swing jazz fan) may have had something to do with it too.

Link:

Billie Holiday (1957) Fine and Mellow Video

The Sound of Jazz

Billie Holiday performed Fine and Mellow

Roy Eldridge (trumpet) 6th solo
Doc Cheatham (trumpet)
Vic Dickenson (trombone) 3rd solo
Lester Young (tenor sax) 2nd solo
Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax) 1st and 5th solos
Ben Webster (tenor sax)
Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax) 4th solo
Danny Barker (guitar)
Mal Waldron (piano)
Milt Hinton (bass)
Osie Johnson (drums)