1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Revolutionary!, November 11, 2009
This review is from: Bird up : The Charlie Parker Remix Project (Audio CD)
This album is amazing. I've never heard anything like it before. It feels like a rollercoaster ride into the future. I didn't know enough about Charlie Parker before I heard it, but I now know that he was a true genius who left a deep impression on so many other geniuses who followed in his footsteps, a select few of whom make their visionary presence felt alongside his on this unprecedented recording.
From the album's completely appropriate first three words ("Now's the Time" - courtesy of Red Hawk) through the disintegration of it's final cosmic note (courtesy of El-P), Bird Up is so full of unexpected twists and turns that it feels more like a virtual reality adventure than any CD I've ever heard.
Some of my favorites are "Bird of Paradise (Gone)" - a mind blowing portrait of love by Serj Tankian of System of a Down; "Congo Blues (Silencer)" - a truly wild journey through the African jungle with Donk, Ravi Coltrane, Wild Children, Hubert Laws and Kodo; "Bebop (Live at the Rooftop)" and "Cheers (X-ecutioners Style) - courtesy of samurai master producer/MC The RZA and scratch kings the X-ecutioners, respectively - two of the most stirring and inspired juxtapositions of jazz and hip-hop I've ever heard; and "A Night in Tunisia (Downpour)" - another highly wild track courtesy of Donk, the Coconut Tree and Kodo.
Make no mistake. There is not a dull moment on this entire recording. Before this, I can recall five times that I've made that statement about one album's worth of material: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue; The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper; Dr. John - Gris Gris; The Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique; and Nas - Illmatic. Ironically, Bird Up: The Charlie Parker Remix Project combines the finest elements of each of those genre stretching albums into one brilliant tribute to one of the most fearless revolutionaries of the 20th century. New ground has been broken. The 21st century has officially begun. Now is indeed the time.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
