For the second of his three Mainstream sessions (one that has been reissued on CD), the bebop altoist
Charles McPherson pays tribute to
Billie Holiday; in fact, "Siku Ya Bibi" means "Day of the Lady" in Swahili. The emphasis is mostly on ballads, with "Miss Brown to You" and "Lover Come Back to Me" being exceptions. Four of the eight selections find
McPherson backed by ten strings arranged by
Ernie Wilkins, while the remainder of the date has the altoist joined by a rhythm section that includes pianist
Barry Harris. Although not quite up to the level of his upcoming, more freewheeling Xanadu sessions, this is a fine outing. Highlights include the two aforementioned cooking pieces, "Lover Man," "Good Morning Heartache," and "I'm a Fool to Want You."