Jun 17, 2025 11:12 AM
Kandace Springs Sings Billie Holiday
When it came time to pose for the cover of her new album, Lady In Satin — a tribute to Billie Holiday’s 1958…
Mosaic Records has re-released two more albums under its Mosaic Select Series featuring the works of trombonist Bennie Green and pianist Randy Weston.
After becoming a popular jukebox artist in the forties and fifties leading his own band, Green signed with Blue Note in 1958. Mosaic Select: Bennie Green comprises Green and Babs Gonzales compositions from Blue Note albums Back On The Scene, Soul Stirrin’, and Walkin’ & Talkin’. The album also includes musical reprises of Soul Stirrin’ tunes from Ike Quebec’s Congo Lament, on which Green played two of his standards.
Gene Ammons, Stanley Turrentine, Art Blakey, Billy Root, Sonny Clark, Elvin Jones, Charlie Rouse, Eddy Williams and Louis Hayes, among others, support Green on the digitally remastered album.
Mosaic Select: Randy Weston spans Weston’s compositions between 1957 and 1963.
His earlier, more traditional jazz albums during this period include Piano-A-La-Mode for Jubilee and Little Niles and Live At The Five Spot for United Artists. In 1960, Weston began to fuse his jazz with African music on albums like Uhuru Afrika (Roulette, 1960) and Highlife (Colpix, 1963). The reissue also includes compositions from a previously unissued 1960 Roulette album.
Soloists and rhythm players Johnny Griffin, Coleman Hawkins, Kenny Dorham, Cecil Payne, Ron Carter, Roy Haynes, Clark Terry and Freddie Hubbard join Weston.
All recordings are available through Mosaic Records. For more information, go to www.mosaicrecords.com
“There’s nothing quite like it,” Springs says of working with an orchestra. “It’s 60 people working in harmony in the moment. Singing with them is kind of empowering but also humbling at the same time.”
Jun 17, 2025 11:12 AM
When it came time to pose for the cover of her new album, Lady In Satin — a tribute to Billie Holiday’s 1958…
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