ORIGINAL LINER NOTES - BILLIE HOLIDAY (Clef Records)

I’ve often felt that, beyond giving a few salient facts, writing a brochure for a new album by Billie Holiday was a trifle presumptuous on my part — and at worst, a conceded waste of the reader’s time. I say presumptuous because I’m sure that by now anyone in the world who is a jazz fan of any sort considers Miss Holiday one of the great jazz artists of our time — if not the greatest.

I say waste of time since so many have probably come after reading liner notes about Miss Holiday, who at this moment probably require a brochure for Billie Holiday as little as the Pope requires a primer on sin.

On a contrary theme, though, beyond asking them to take a few listen at Miss Holiday’s extraordinary sound — her directness, her fire of feelings, style, originality and time, and then to just face the music, the results are self-evident.

Among the highlights on this album, Miss Holiday takes another shot at the composing talents of Cole Porter with the ever-haunting “Love For Sale”, singing one of her latest tunes, such as “Love for Sale”, “Autumn in New York” and “How Deep is the Ocean?”

She also enjoys the help of Oscar Peterson on piano, Flip Phillips on tenor sax, Charlie Shavers on trumpet, Benny Carter on alto sax, and Ray Brown on bass. “Love for Sale” and several other accompaniments on “Love For Sale” and “Moonglow” are by Ellis Larkins.

A highlight: the big sound of “Softly Blue”. It was written by Miss Holiday’s long-time friend, pianist and composer Bobby Tucker. “P.S. I Love You” and “What A Little Moonlight Can Do” have her old stars: Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Scott on clarinet, and by Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis and Ray Brown, plus her old sideman Gus and Shaughnessy on drums.

All in all, I think, it’s quite some album.

— NORMAN GRANZ