With: Kimiko Kasai (vocals), Mal Waldron (piano), Yoshio Suzuki (bass), Hiroshi Murakami (drums)
Record date: February 13, 1971
Everybody knows Mal of at least one thing: as Lady Day’s last pianist, staying with her until her death in 1959. When she died, Mal was devastated. He always saw her as a sort of a big sister. After her death he paid tribute to her in many ways, with multiple compositions written for her and even complete albums. Mal has also collaborated with lots of singers since those days: Abbey Lincoln, Jeanne Lee, Kim Parker, Sumiko Yoseyama, Kimiko Kasai etc. etc. etc. His dark, bluesy and minimalistic sound fits perfectly with a female vocalist. This Lady Day tribute was his first since his breakdown in 1963. He is backed by a fine Japanese band and accompanies Japanese singer Kimiko Kasai on 8 songs that are all affiliated with Billie Holiday.
I really do not like vocal jazz. I’ll explain further here below. On the record: Kasai could definitely sing. She has a sweet and tender voice and doesn’t show off too much. She also speaks English fluently and that helps a lot in listening comfort. The eight standards were chosen with care and are honoring Billie Holiday in a way she deserves. The songs are all pretty slow ballads, so the atmosphere is warm and calm. There’s not a lot to say about the band as they all play well but do not really solo. Mal plays fine details in the background and has one chance to really play at bit on ‘Yesterdays’. All in all he plays a pretty modest role on this record. Yet he is recognizable immediately.
About me disliking vocal jazz: the only two singers in my collection, part from all the collaborations with Mal, are Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Billie has a special place in my heart, there’s nothing like her. I love all the stuff she has made, from the Columbia ’30’s records till her final records with her broken voice in 1959. Her voice is just pure feeling and emotion. Ella is just a very good and swinging singer with an astonishing technique and ditto personality. And yes Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Abbey Lincoln they all could sing, but I just don’t like listening to it…. That means the vocal albums with Mal are never rated very high by me. Personal taste definitely plays a role In that. So if you do like vocals, keep that in mind and judge for yourself.
This is a fine jazz album which would definitely be appreciated by vocal jazz lovers. Kimiko does have talent! She’s the best singer I know from Japan at least. The album is widely available on vinyl for low prices but never was reissued on CD as with most of the Victor recordings by Mal. Someone really should do something with that catalogue.
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