This release presents, for the first time ever on a single set, all surviving performances by the great Billie Holiday at Carnegie Hall, covering the years 1946 to 1956. The first CD begins with her most celebrated Carnegie Hall set, taped on November 10, 1956 and released on the album "The Essential Billie Holiday -Carnegie Hall Concert" (Verve V-8410), followed by all of her other preserved recordings at that venue, some of them only rarely heard.
As a bonus, a never before released November 8, 1956 radio show on which Billie recites the lyrics to three of her songs a capella and is interviewed about her upcoming Carnegie Hall concert. The closing bonus, also previously unissued, features Billie a few days after the concert relaxing during a party at Leonard Feather’s home (he’s at the piano), and singing a unique vocal duet with Helen Merrill.