One of the warmest
ballad
singers to mature during the 1950s,
Johnny Holiday
never became a major star but he worked steadily throughout the era.
'Holiday' for Lovers
was originally released by the
Mode
label just before it went out of business, and it has been a true rarity ever since. Backed by an octet of West Coast all-stars arranged by
Marty Paich
,
Holiday
sounds at his very best, interpreting a set of slow and medium-tempo
ballads
with warmth, sensitivity, and a light swing.
only sang music on a part-time basis after the music world changed in the 1960s, but in 1998 he re-emerged with his warm baritone intact and full of enthusiasm despite being 74 years old, still sounding very much in his prime as he entered his eighties. The reissue of
, which has concise solos from many of the sidemen (most notably altoist
Herb Geller
and trumpeter
Jack Sheldon
), is a very welcome event. ~ Scott Yanow