Genius of Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Savoy Jazz
• ASIN: B000001CQ5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,790 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Bird Gets the Worm [original take 3]

2. Bluebird [original take 1]

3. Klaunstance [original take 1]

4. Barbados [original take 4]

5. Merry Go Round [original take 2]

6. Donna Lee [original take 4]

7. Chasing the Bird [original take 3]

8. Koko [Original Master]

9. Perhaps [new take 1]

10. Warming up a Riff [Original Master]

11. Slim's Jam [Original Master]

12. Popity Pop [Original Master 4]

13. Dizzy Boogie [Original Master 5]

14. Flat Foot Floogie [Original Master]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Parker album, but actually not complete, August 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Genius of Charlie Parker (Audio CD)

I want to make a correction on the fine review that was written below. While the tracks on this CD are all master takes, not all of the Savoy master takes cut by Parker are presented. Besides the absence of any master takes from sessions recorded under Tiny Grimes or Miles Davis, such classic tracks like "Billie's Bounce," "Now's The Time," and the absolutely essential "Parker's Mood" are not included, as well as lesser-known greats like "Cheryl," "Steeplechase," and "Marmaduke." It's actually a travesty that these tracks were passed over for the Slim Gaillard tracks, which aren't bad, but aren't a good representation of Bird's music.

While there's no arguing that most of the material here is great, it isn't really a sensibly compiled CD, which is why I can only recommend it to those who intend to buy all of the Parker CD's by Denon Records. When the Savoy catalog was bought by Denon Records a couple of years ago, they decided to release Parker's material on CD reissues of the original Lp's pressed in the 60's, long after Parker's death. These Lp's were somewhat haphazard collections of his 78 rpm records (the other titles also contained numerous alternate tracks). Furthermore, since these CD's were exact replicas of these Lp's, they are just as long, clocking in at a mere half hour or so.

These CD's still have some things going for them. The presentation is certainly attractive, particularly the replica Lp sleeves. Also, the sound is as good as can be, having been remastered with Denon's own 20-bit Masterphonic system from the best available sources. While not quite as clean as the processed sound on Rhino's "Yardbird Suite," the sound is warmer with a better dynamic range (and the noise is only that noticeable on headphones).

Currently, there's no domestic issue that features all of Bird's Savoy master takes, much less the complete sessions, but rumor has it that Warner Bros. has one in the works. You could get the unauthorized CD's produced by the independent label, Definitive Records, from the small European country Andorra, of all places. The 2-CD set "Complete Master Takes" is becoming widely available, and it has 24-bit sound, but like I said, it's an unauthorized version, so the source material isn't the absolute best.

Personally, I'd get "Yardbird Suite" if you're a casual fan or a new listener. If you want all of Bird's Savoy material with the best sound, pick up all the Denon CD's. Just don't pick up this one CD and this one CD only, expecting complete satisfaction.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Bird Compilation, July 13, 2000

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Genius of Charlie Parker (Audio CD)

"The Genius of Charlie Parker" is the perfect compilation for those interested in discovering Bird's music. On Verve compilations like "Essential Charlie Parker" you get a quintet track, then a strings track and then a big band track, and the result is a lack of continuity. This CD takes all of Bird's Master Takes for Savoy and brings them together. Another bonus is you don't have to program around umpteen alternate takes, which unless you're a jazz fanatic is probably a welocome relief. The only detractor on this release is the last few tracks featuring Slim Gaillard on vocals. The music is good but the often spoken lyrics seem to be trapped in their time period. The rest of the music of course is timeless.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bird flies well on this one!, June 11, 2007

By 

Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Genius of Charlie Parker (Audio CD)

This consists of various sessions in he late 40s of our man with the likes of Miles, Diz, Dodo, and Slim Gilliard. The version of "Barbados" is so mellow and sweet that even non-bebop fans (like me) will dig.

The Slim Gilliard tunes are also quite entertaining. One of jazz's great clown princes (almost up there with Louis Jordan), he and Parker, Diz and co. get wild with comic tunes such as "Poppity Pop" and Gilliard's comedy jazz classic "Flat Foot Floogie." If this doesn't get you going, nothing will.

Incidentally, on "Slim's Jam," we actually get to hear the Bird-man of Kansas City speak in a bit of dialogue with Slim. Really interesting, as is this Cd itself.