lifestyle THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 Music & Movies This CD cover image released by Sony Legacy shows ‘The Centennial Collection,’ This image released by Blue Note Records shows ‘Yesterday I Had the Blues: The This CD cover image released by Sony Legacy shows ‘Coming Forth By Day,’ by by Billie Holiday. — AP photos Music of Billie Holiday,’ by Jose James. Cassandra Wilson. New albums honor Billie Holiday on centennial of her birth he odds were stacked against Eleanora Fagan, who was peak voice, playful and flirty on such tunes as “What a Little arrangements; producer extraordinaire T Bone Burnett, who The Music of Billie Holiday” (Blue Note), the baritone shows he born to unwed teenage parents in Philadelphia on April 7, Moonlight Can Do.” Her mood turned darker after tours of the plays the guitar on several tracks; and drummer Thomas Wydler can be a convincing jazz balladeer, sounding almost like an heir T1915. But she would become perhaps the most influential Jim Crow South in the late 1930s, leading to the searing anti- and bassist Martyn P. Casey of Cave’s alt-rock band The Bad to the laid-back Johnny Hartman. James is supported by a top- jazz singer ever, Billie Holiday, whose centennial is being cele- lynching song “Strange Fruit.” The collection concludes with Seeds. flight rhythm section - with pianist Jason Moran, bassist John brated with new albums honoring her legacy. Unlike Ella more melancholic recordings from the early 1940s reflecting a Wilson’s sultry, smoky vocals are enhanced by the often Pattitucci and drummer Eric Harland - who respect the tradition Fitzgerald, Holiday lacked the vocal technique that would have greater sense of pain and loss, including the self-penned “God haunting, ever-changing electro-acoustic sonic backdrops on while adding modern touches, playing mostly acoustic arrange- gotten her past the early rounds of “American Idol.” But nobody Bless the Child,” “Gloomy Sunday” and “Fine and Mellow.” such tunes as a slowed-down, minor key “All of Me,” the sensual ments that highlight but never overwhelm the vocals. did it better when it came to interpreting and plumbing the “The Way You Look Tonight” and “You Go to My Head” with a James performs a male-appropriate selection of nine tunes emotional depths of a song. Smoky vocals sweeping Philly Soul string arrangement. Wilson brings “Strange from the Holiday songbook. He smoothly croons his way “Billie Holiday - The Centennial Collection” (Columbia/Legacy) Cassandra Wilson acknowledged Holiday’s influence by Fruit” to a rousing climax full of screaming guitars. Her original through hushed versions of “Good Morning Heartache” and offers an excellent introduction to 20 of Holiday’s finest record- opening her Grammy-winning 1996 album, “New Moon “Last Song (for Lester),” imagining what a heartbroken Holiday “Tenderly,” gets into slow blues grooves on “Fine and Mellow” ings from 1935-44. Holiday likened her voice to a horn, and her Daughter,” with “Strange Fruit.” A masterful interpreter of songs, might have sung had she been allowed to perform at Young’s and “God Bless the Child,” and trades briskly paced solos with inventive phrasing and sense of swing enabled her to seamlessly Wilson has released a musical homage, “Coming Forth by Day” funeral, matches her tender vocals with Robby Marshall’s mellow Moran on the only up-tempo track, “What a Little Moonlight Can mesh her vocals with the instrumentals. These recordings pair (Legacy), offering a fresh, bold 21st-century take on 11 songs tenor sax. Do.” James closes the album with his own dirge like solo version Holiday with top Swing Era horn players, both white and black, from Holiday’s repertoire. Wilson once again blends jazz with of “Strange Fruit,” punctuated only by occasional hand claps and including Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Buck Clayton, Ben folk, blues, country, R&B and rock influences. Her genre bending Modern touches his own looped and layered voice adding a droning chant, an Webster and notably her musical soulmate, tenor saxophonist approach is reinforced by involving non-jazz artists - rock and Jose James describes Holiday as his “musical mother.” On emotional reminder of the song’s relevance today. — AP Lester Young. pop producer Nick Launay, best known for his work with Nick recent albums, James offered an eclectic mix of R&B, hip-hop, These early recordings show a more optimistic Holiday in Cave; the iconoclastic Van Dyke Parks, who did the lush string neo-soul, indie rock and jazz. But on “Yesterday I Had the Blues: West, photographer settle ‘Star Wars’ lawsuit over airport attack anye West and a paparazzo he attacked have settled movies to be a lawsuit, at least in part with a handshake and an Kapology. West was sued by Daniel Ramos after the 2013 attack outside a terminal at Los Angeles International released online Airport and the case was scheduled to go to trial next week. Ramos’ attorney Gloria Allred wrote in a statement he six original “Star Wars” movies are being released issued Tuesday that the case had been settled and West online in digital form for the first time, the studios had apologized to her client. Allred sent a photo of West, Tbehind the iconic franchise has announced. The films- smiling, as he shook Ramos’ hand. West’s attorney Shawn ”Star Wars: a New Hope” (1977), “The Empire Strikes Back” Holley did not immediately return phone and email mes- (1980), “Return of the Jedi” (1983), “The Phantom Menace” sages seeking comment. (1999), “Attack of the Clones” (2002), and “Revenge of the Sith” Allred wrote that other details of the settlement will not (2005), will be available from April 10 on outlets like iTunes, be released, but said the apology was a major component. Google Play and Amazon. Ramos’ lawsuit stated he was attacked by West after he “Since the debut of the first film nearly 40 years ago, ‘Star asked the rapper why he wouldn’t talk to photographers. Wars’ has become a worldwide phenomenon with legions of “Celebrities are not above the law, and they have no right fans from every generation,” said Walt Disney Studios head to physically attack someone simply because they were Alan Bergman in a statement late Monday. “It’s only fitting asked a question,” Allred wrote in a statement. West, 37, that audiences enjoy this legendary saga and its many fasci- pleaded no contest last year to misdemeanor battery and nating behind-the-scenes stories on a wide variety of plat- remains on probation.—AP forms, and we’re very excited to finally bring all six films to Digital HD for the first time.” A new episode in the franchise, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” is due for release on December 18 this year in the United States. — AFP BET Honoree Kanye West accepts the Visonary Award at the BET Honors 2015 at Warner Theater in Washington. — AP OSN marks exclusive telecast of Game of Huawei and Nancy Ajram Thrones season 5 at the same minute as the US launch ‘Be The Star’ competition SN, the region’s leading pay-TV network, will bring There’s plenty to look forward to this season, with RR the much-awaited fifth season of epic fantasy dra- Martin, claiming that there will be many surprises along Oma Game of Thrones at the same minute as the US the way. “People are going to die who don’t die in the across MENA region exclusively to its subscribers in the Middle East and North books, so even the book readers will be unhappy,” he told Africa (MENA). fans at the Writers Guild West Awards. uawei today launched an online competi- Huawei brand ambassador over the last year, and Starting April 13, a new episode will air every Monday at tion giving fans a chance to sing with now coming up with this unique campaign in part- 10pm KSA on OSN First HD at the same time as in the US, HArabic superstar, Nancy Ajram. “Huawei Be nership with her, and we look forward to seeing but for fans who cannot wait will have the option to watch The Star” contest allows participants to enter into a more of her in the coming months.” the highly anticipated new season on OSN Play and OSN fun-filled singing competition by simply uploading As ‘Huawei Be The Star’ launches across region, On Demand at 5am, minute by minute with US audiences. their video to a website, encouraging singers Huawei offer you the chance to learn more about To catch up on all that’s happened in the land of across the region to reveal the superstar within your chance to sing with Nancy Ajram on 17th - Westeros so far, or to find out why the return of HBO’s most themselves. 19th April. Visit the pop-up stand in Beirut, City popular show to date is so eagerly awaited, all 40 episodes The online contest opens today and thousands Mall? for your chance to talk to experts about the from seasons 1-4 are available to enjoy via OSN’s exclusive of hopeful singers are expected to submit videos functions, features and specifications of the new On-demand service and on OSN Play. Fans can also watch for their chance at this once-in-a-lifetime opportu- Huawei Ascend Mate 7 smartphone. several behind-the-scenes and special features underlining nity. Fans are encouraged to submit a clip of them OSN’s credentials as the home for HBO’s award-winning singing along to Nancy Ajram’s “Nam Bi Albi” series. before May 2nd 2015 for a chance to win. Khulud Abu Homos, OSN’s Executive Vice President for Once videos are submitted, the top ten videos Programming, said: “We are delighted to bring the most- with the most Facebook likes will move on to the watched series in HBO history and a worldwide TV phe- second round.