From Billie Holiday to Bjork, She’s Very Much in Demand

Billie Holiday and George Michael are not exactly names that resonate with eachother. But there is a surprisingly strong link between the two, and her name is Corky Hale.

In 1957, Hale was Holiday’s piano accompanist. Last year, she performed “I Remember You” as a duo on Michael’s “Songs of the Last Century” album and accompanied him on an Albert Hall concert that also included Boy George and Elton John.

“Both assignments came out of the blue,” says Hale, who--in addition to her fine piano work--is generally acknowledged as one of the very few first-rate harpists. “I was working with Jerry Gray’s band in Las Vegas when there was a last-minute guest-star booking, and in walked Billie Holiday. She found out that I was the piano player, walked over, hugged me and said, ‘You are my little girl.’ I did a month with her in Vegas. Then she asked me to [play the Los Angeles club] Jazz City with her, and I did. But she was on the downside of her career, and a year and half later she was dead. But for me, it was the experience of a lifetime.”

The Michael connection was equally unexpected.

“George heard a record of Bjork’s that I’d played on and asked his producer to find me, which he did. So, last October I recorded with him, and in November his manager called and asked me to come to London for the concert. On the concert, George introduced me by saying I’d played for Frank Sinatra. Which was OK, but then he added, ‘And she played for Billie Holiday.’ And I thought, ‘Oh, my God, George, she’s been dead for 40 years!’ But the audience oohed and aahed, and that was cool.”

The combination of Holiday and Michael would be diverse enough for anyone’s career, but it’s just the start for Hale. She also spent three years on Liberace’s television show, played with Ray Anthony and Harry James, and recorded with, among dozens of others, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Judy Collins and James Brown.

Still not eclectic enough? Add this: Since 1970, Hale has been married to songwriter Mike Stoller of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber & Stoller.

“When I met him,” says Hale with a laugh, “I didn’t know that he and Jerry had written anything other than ‘You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog.’ I didn’t have a clue. I was working at the time with people like Frank Sinatra, in that world, and rock ‘n’ roll rarely came up in conversation.”

On Sunday at the Beverly Hills Public Library, Hale celebrates her longtime belief in romance with a program of jazz-tinged ballads, playing harp, piano and adding a few vocals. She will be accompanied by bassist Don Bagley, and singer Byron Motley will add a few vocals.

“It’ll be fun,” she says. “Some good standards, relaxed jazz rhythms and a few memories. A nice lead-in to Valentine’s Day.”

* Y2Kabaret featuring Corky Hale. Beverly Hills Public Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. Sunday, 5 p.m. $20 admission. Info: (310) 476-6735.

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More Jazz for Lovers: Given that most American popular songs--certainly those favored by jazz artists--are about love in all its many manifestations, it’s surprising that Valentine’s Day receives so few recorded tributes. Recognizing that fact, Columbia Legacy has released a pair of soundtracks for the occasion: “Dave Brubeck Love Songs” and “Louis Armstrong Love Songs.”

While neither may be the first artist who comes to mind when thinking of love songs, the selections are more appealing than one might expect. The Brubeck tunes--such as “My Romance,” “These Foolish Things,” “What Is This Thing Called Love?” and so on--have the benefit of Paul Desmond’s alto saxophone, surely one of the most romantic sounds in all of jazz. The Armstrong tracks are actually a kind of primer in the art of pop singing, especially in six tunes from 1929-30. Combined with the later material (from 1955-61), they display Satchmo at his vocal best. And, in a kind of musical synchronicity, two tunes--”One Moment Worth Years” and “I Didn’t Know Until You Told Me”--were written by Dave and Iola Brubeck, and performed here by Armstrong with singer Carmen McRae and the Brubeck Trio.

Krall’s Grammy Jackpot: How much is a Grammy nomination for album of the year worth? Quite a bit. Since Diana Krall’s “When I Look in Your Eyes” became a rare jazz entry in the category, the album’s sales have increased by 40%. According to Verve Group publicist Chris Wheat, current SoundScan sales figures for the album are 360,000. Half a million albums have already been shipped worldwide, and the album has been certified gold. Not bad for a jazz singer-pianist who once said she’d have been happy with a regular gig at a Holiday Inn.

Grammy Jazz Kids: Thirty-four high school jazz musicians from around the country (representing 30 cities and 18 states) have been selected to participate in three groups--the Grammy Jazz High School Jazz Band, Combo and Jazz Choir--that will rehearse, record and perform in Los Angeles for 10 days surrounding the Grammy Award ceremonies. The young players will perform at the Grammy Nominee Reception on Feb. 22 and will make community appearances at Borders Books and Music (on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade next Friday and in Old Town Pasadena on Feb. 19), as well as at the Jazz Bakery on Feb. 21. They also will record a CD with percussionist Poncho Sanchez and saxophonist James Moody; the CD will be available later at Borders stores.

Smooth Jazz Awards: Guitarist Peter White, saxophonist Boney James and trumpeter Rick Braun were the big winners in the first Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards, presented Jan. 31 at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. White won in the guitarist, song (“Midnight in Manhattan”), CD (“Perfect Moment”) and collaboration (with Grover Washington Jr. on “Midnight in Manhattan”) categories. James was honored as artist of the year, male artist of the year and best saxophonist. James was awarded the brass player and producer awards. Other winners included Keiko Matsui (female artist of the year), Fourplay (best group), Nathan East (bass player), David Benoit (keyboardist), Luther Vandross (vocalist) and Steve Cole (best new artist).

J@LC’s 10th: Jazz at Lincoln Center is celebrating its 10th anniversary season with more than 450 events around the world. Among the highlights, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra will tour Europe and North and South America; individual Lincoln Center concerts will be devoted to the music of John Lewis, Dianne Reeves, Benny Golson and Marcus Roberts; and several programs will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Louis Armstrong. The projected jazz performance facility at the New York Coliseum site is slated to begin construction in 2001 and open in 2003.