Customer Reviews

Bird Symbols

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Great tunes from the early septet, quartet and quintet. Has that wonderful "genuine" scratchy production. This is the real thing! Some of Parker's best early work. Features Miles Davis.

This disk (on vinyl) was the first Parker album I ever owned. Although the up-tempo stuff (Moose the Mooche, Yardbird Suite etc.) are classic Bird, the ballads on here (Don't Blame Me, Embraceable You, etc.)have never, in my opinion, been excelled by Parker himself or anyone else for pure melodic beauty. The improvisations on these ballads are crystalline elegance, each note utterly perfect. This disk changed ny life forever. Well worth replacing the old vinyl copy.

With hindsight the answer is always obvious. I should have gone back to the original album I have owned for over 30 years and bought a new record player and speakers if I had wanted to enjoy this album at its best. With help I could possibly even have made my own CD.

The digital re-mastering has done its best to numb the life out of this very vital album. In the car, turn it up, it gets me to work OK. However, what was supposed to be a starter gift for my daughter Ella, failed to hit the mark.

The beautiful black and white artwork of the original album has also been replaced by an artists impression of somebody I can only presume to be Charlie Parker. This artwork is so bad I just can't stop smiling. So well worth the $$$$ spent.

Don't let me put you off. You must buy this album at some point in your life. This CD, a similar CD or even an internet donwload will keep you going and get you to work OK while you continue to search for the original vinyl.

But unfortunately you can't have mine as it now belongs to Ella.

The playing of Parker and his groups here, from his early years as a leader (1946-1947) deserves 5 stars - there's no argument here !
BUT, why settle for 12 songs when there is "In a soulful mood" which contains all 12 plus 6 extra tunes with great sound quality - and at a lower price. If this is not available than there is the Ken Burns collection which is awesome.
If you bought this one you bought the greatest music - but there's no reason to make such a short CD unless it's a real bargain price - which it's not.