Paul Whiteman (featuring Billie Holiday): Trav'lin Light

This one-off recording with Paul Whiteman on the West Coast is a reminder of what an experienced big band singer Billie Holiday was. She had appeared on film with Duke Ellingtons orchestra, was a member of Ralph Coopers big band, played a series of dates with the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra, appeared briefly with Fletcher Hendersons orchestra, was a member of the Count Basie orchestra for almost a year, was with Arties Shaws orchestra for almost as long and had guested with Benny Goodmans big band on radio by the time she recorded this neglected classic. The wonderfully languorous muted trombone of Skip Layton sets the mood for Holidays masterful vocal that follows. A good microphone picks up her voice at its peak and the way she subtly alters the melody and brings expressive weight to the lyric content is a great exposition of less-is-more. The lyrics tell a story of being unlucky in love, which was consistent with the character part that was now her nightclub persona. The tonal contrast of strings brings Holidays voice into sharp relief and touched an Achilles heel the next time she recorded for a big record label she wanted strings.