Customer Reviews

Charlie Parker (Dig)

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

 

 

This is an excellent albums compiling Bird last sessions playing straight ahead bebop. Many reasons make this a stellar CD: 1) the sound is excellent, except for a couple of tracks, I might say that this is the best sounding bebeop Bird available. 2) The track selection is very good, 'confirmation', 'nows the time' 'kim' are classics. 3) The bird is in excellent form 4) mostly these are quartet sessions, so the only horn here is Bird's. 5) alternate and false starts are added to the end so they dont interfere and allows to get closer to the genious of Parker at work. A must purchase, too bad is buried allong the hundreds of Parker CDs available.

This CD's organizing principle is not clear to me - it collects all of Parker's recordings with pianist Hank Jones, but otherwise I'm not sure how they decided what to put on here (compared to the 2CD Verve Best Of, for example).

Regardless, the selections are superb, and generally in very good sound compared to most of what's available for Parker. I've also compared all of the tracks on this 1998 CD to the same tracks on the 1988 Complete Parker on Verve box - and this disc comes out noticeably better in every case.

There are cheaper ways to get introduced to Parker, and certainly the earlier Dial/Savoy material is fundemental, but this is a very good intro in decently good sound.

I consider this one of Parker's finest recordings.We find him in the company of some great players including Hank Jones,Al Haig,Max Roach,Ray Brown,Shelly Manne,Percy Heath and Teddy Kotick.The sound quality is superb and Parker is right on his game throughout the session.Many of the compositions are from his own pen.This is the 'loin cut' of Parkers genius as an innovater and a trail blazer.A brilliant master of the improvised line,his unique melodic and harmonic approaches to chordal structures would be utilized by many of the great musical leaders in the years to come after his death.His sound is fresh,and his ideas remarkably innovative,and never falling back on the 'cliche'.Everything comes together in these sessions. Take note of the remarkable 'Chi-Chi','Kim',I Remember You','Star Eyes',and 'Laird Baird'.The personnel on this recording has always been very confusing so I thought I would include all the ensuing credits.&*(which includes numerous alt.takes on given tunes.) Hope you enjoy.


Tracks [#1-4]
1]'Now's the Time'(Charlie Parker)
2]'I Remember You'(Mercer-Schertzinger}
3]'Comformation(Charlie Parker)
4]'Chi-Chi'(Charlie Parker)

Personnel:
Charlie Parker-alto
Al Haig-piano
Percy Heath-bass
Max Roach-drums

Tracks [#5-8]
5]'The Song is You'(Hammerstein/Kern)
6]'Laird Baird'(Parker)
7]'Kim'(Parker)
8]'Cosmic Rays'(Parker)

Personnel:
Charlie Parker-alto
Hank Jones-piano
Teddy Kotick-bass
Max Roach-drums

Tracks [#9-11]
9]'Star Eyes'(DePaul-Raye)
10]'Blues'(Parker)
11]'I'm In The Mood For Love'(McHugh-Fields)

Personnel-
Charlie Parker-alto
Hank Jones-piano
Ray Brown-bass
Buddy Rich

Track#12
12]'The Bird'(Parker)

Personnel:
Charlie Parker-alto
Hank Jones-piano
Ray Brown-bass
Shelly Manne-drums

Tracks#13-14
13]'Celebrity'(Parker)
14]'Ballade'(Parker-Hawkins)

Personnel:
Charlie Parker-alto
Coleman Hawkins-tenor(#14)
Hank Jones-piano
Ray Brown-bass
Buddy Rich-drums

Tracks#15-16
'Cardboard'(Parker)
'Visa'(Parker)

Personnel:
Charlie Parker-alto
Tommy Turkin-trombone
Kenny Dorham-trumpet
Al Haig-piano
Tommy Porter-bass
Max Roach-drums
Carlos Vidal-percussion

An under-rated jazz musician in my opinion. Everyone talks about miles, but Charlie is IT. For fans of jazz trios and quartets.