M. Ward has played with the likes of
Norah Jones and
Arcade Fire, was one half of the twosome She & Him and part of the supergroup
Monsters of Folk. He is a great admirer of
Billie Holiday and the album Think of Spring is his ode to her. It contains arrangements of songs from Holidays album
Lady in Satin (1958). In contrast to the original orchestral versions, M. Ward goes in the meditative direction
… with his homage. The singer-songwriter has made minimal acoustic guitar versions of them and adds a bluesy layer underneath. The result is a tender collection of songs in which he manages to capture the same kind of sensitivity as Holiday. Proceeds from album sales go to COVID-19 research. (JvQ)more
