Customer Reviews

Founding Fathers of Be Bop

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This video mainly provides two things. One is an excellent look at some of the only existing footage of Charlie Parker, and the other is a glimpse of Gillespie's attempt to merge the bebop stylistic changes with the big band format.
The footage of Parker and Gillespie is from a 1952 tv show for their reception of Down Beat awards. They play one track--Hot House.
The next several tracks are of Gillespie's 1947 big band playing a show for television which features singers and dancers. Though this is certainly not normal bebop fare, it is an interesting intersection of bebop soloing, big band popular tunes, and simple entertainment--something which Gillespie was never so much against as others in the movement.
The final track is from Gillespie's 1961 quartet and provides an updated look of the bebop small group format.
The only curious thing about the disc is that the packaging labels 10 tracks, though the DVD only has 8 of those on it. Tracks 2 and 3 are simply not there (Salt Peanuts and Be Bab A Lee'Ba). I am not sure where something went wrong, but it is also listed on the "personnel" section of the DVD itself that tracks "2-9" are Gillespie's big band. Where these two missing tracks are is not really known.
All and all great footage of quality video and sound, with 6 of 8 tracks showing an important side of Gillespie (and bebop/jazz) that is little remembered or discussed.