Bird Up: The Charlie Parker Remix Project

Charlie Parker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 21, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Savoy Jazz
• ASIN: B0000DCYQP
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,368 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From URB Magazine

To jazz fans, Charlie Parker (aka Bird) is legendary, a musical genius and an icon of cool. To mess with (or re-imagine) his work is tantamount to blasphemy. TourŽ writes in his liner notes, "It takes a genius to dance with a genius." Though certainly a statement of fact, it's out of place here. They may be emerging stars, but it's a bit too early to call Serj Tankian (frontman for System of a Down), Rob Swift (of the X-ecutioners), El-P, RZA and the rest of the assembled cast geniuses. As impressive a crew as it is, these remixes just don't work. The more experimental re-workings by Serj Tankian on "Bird of Paradise (Gone)" and Hal Willner's Whoops I'm an Indian on "Salt Peanuts (The Mr. Peanut Chronicles)" just seem to be exercises in ego. The better contributions come in the form of Dan the Automator's take on "Perhaps (Someday the Roof Will Get Fixed)" and Me'shell NdegŽOcello's interpretation of "Relaxin' at Camarillo (August 29)," where Parker's original compositions are simply complemented by new grooves and beats. It's highly overrated, but perhaps Bird Up! will succeed by helping a new generation of listeners discover the genius of "Yardbird" and the lesser-known talents on this record.

Barnaby Dick

Product Description

Bird Up (CD Album) by The Charlie Parker Remix Projct... - 13 Tracks : 1. Now's the Time (No Time Like Now) o Produced and Constructed by Red Hawk o Featuring Deke Damascus 2. Relaxin' At Camarillo (August 29) o Produced and Constructed by Me'Shell Ndegéocello 3. Salt Peanuts (the Mr. Peanuts Chronical) o Produced and Constructed by Hal Willner's Whoops I'm an Indian o Featuring the Kronos Quartet, Dr. John and Mocean Worker 4. Bird of Paradise (Gone) o Produced and Constructed by Serj Tankian 5. Congo Blues (Silencer) o Produced and Constructed by Donk o Featuring Ravi Coltrane, Wild Children, Hubert Laws and Kodo 6. Bebop (Live At the Rooftop) o Produced and Constructed by Choco and the RZA o Featuring the RZA aka ZigZagZig 7. Steeplechase (Sittin' On 22's) o Produced and Constructed by Dan the Automator 8. Cheers (X-Ecutioners Style) o Produced and Constructed by Rob Swift of the X-Ecutioners o Featuring The X-ecutioners 9. A Night In Tunisia, A (Downpour) o Produced and Constructed by Donk o Featuring the Coconut Tree and Kodo 10. All the Shadows of Nuff o Produced and Constructed by Hal Willner's Whoops I'm And Indian o Featuring Garth Hudson of The Band and Mocean Worker 11. Perhaps (Someday the Roof Will Get Fixed) o Produced and Constructed by Dan the Automator 12. Barbados (Where Fish Fly) o Produced and Constructed by Matthew Backer o Featuring Hubert Laws and Redback 13. Constellation (Heavenly Bodies) o Produced and Constructed by El-P o Featuring Stephanie Vezina - Album Produced by Matthew Backer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bird Lives Again, February 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Bird Up: The Charlie Parker Remix Project (Audio CD)

I've lived a great many years on this planet, the majority of which have been accompanied by the sounds of Charlie Parker. Early on, I heard Bird's music direct from the source - Parker himself, who was, by all standards, one of a kind. Even before Bird passed in 1955, practically every player in jazz was, in some way or another, emulating his artistry. Still to this day, jazz musicians the world over hitch ride upon ride on Bird's creative coattails like some many-headed high horse of traditionalism gone far astray from its source by way of simply staying too close to home. Charlie Parker would not like what jazz has become: a shell of its former self; not much more than an apelike imitation of its bygone glory days; a bunch of recycled aluminum cans that used to be the brightest star in the night sky. That star was Bird - the original punk rocker; the original hip hopper; the original American Idol (or mine, at least). In all the years since Bird's passing, I hadn't ever heard a fitting tribute to the man more responsible than anyone else for what went on to become not only contemporary jazz, but rock and roll, hip hop and every other important musical movement this side of the 50's... until now. Bird Up - The Charlie Parker Remix Project is precisely that fitting tribute. If you believe in the raw genius that Bird brought to the table first, or even if you're intrigued by it and want to know more, then, along with some of Bird's original masterpieces (preferably those recorded in the mid to late 40's), run out and get your hands on a copy of this record. Bird's rebellious spirit lives in it. Unlike your typical jazz musician's paltry efforts to mimic Bird's stylings, this group of young musical mavericks have constructed a provocative, youthful, deeply loving eulogy which sings Charlie Parker's praises all the way up to the high heavens - straight to the source. Don't walk. For the love of Bird, run and wrap your mind around this outstanding record.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REVOLUTIONARY, November 23, 2003

By 

"wildforthenight" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

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.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Next Dimension..., December 7, 2003

By 

"maharetlives" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bird Up: The Charlie Parker Remix Project (Audio CD)

Oh my stars...

Bird Up: The Charlie Parker Remix Project is the best album I've heard in my young life. It's momentous. I love the way it takes amazingly brilliant artists from all different types of music and brings them together to start one big party. It truly has no boundaries. It rocks in the car. It makes it feel like you're in a spaceship. It's not for the faint of heart. I wouldn't want anyone to fall out of they're rocking chair... or would I?

My favourite tracks are as follows:

"Bird of Paradise (Gone)" - featuring rock God Serj Tankian of System of a Down

"Congo Blues (Silencer)" & "A Night in Tunisia (Downpour)" - both produced by the new and future King of musical expressionism Donk, with sultry science provided by heir to the throne of jazz Ravi Coltrane and otherworldly oracles of the primordial sea The Coconut Tree, respectively

"Constellation (Heavenly Bodies)" - courtesy of underground hip-hop Czar El-P featuring the Goddess Stephanie Vezina on voice

Whoo-wee... I could go on for days and nights. And this album will go on eternally. It really moves me. And if you have a pulse and an innate sense of adventure, it will blow your mind into the next dimension...