Well, it sounds like imitation to me, loving imitation sure, but. . .well. . .I don't dig it. (And I love Billie!)
As I said, I haven't heard the album, but I've never sought it out either, because I always assumed that I'd have the same reaction that you do. I do find it interesting that Billie didn't mind the imitation, which Friedwald wrote was so close to Billie that it fooled Jimmy Rushing!
Wild!
Didn't fool me.