Jazz at Massey Hall [Import]

Charlie Parker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 22, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Jvc Japan
• ASIN: B00002JX61
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,617,609 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Perdido

2. Salt Peanuts

3. All The Thing You Are

4. Wee (Allen's Alley)

5. Hot House

6. Night In Tunisia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arguably the best jazz concert EVER, January 25, 2001

By 

P. Harrigan "the turk" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jazz at Massey Hall (Audio CD)

For those of you who have never heard of "The Jazz Concert", it's a title commonly given to a concert which occurred at Massey Hall (Toronto, Canada) on May 15, 1953 - also called "Jazz at Massey Hall" or "The Quintet". The band consisted of Charlie Parker (alto), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Bud Powell (piano), Charlie Mingus (bass), and Max Roach (drums). This concert and recording has been and is referred to by many critics and musicians as the greatest jazz concert ever. If it isn't, and that would be a matter of opinion, it without a doubt ranks as one of the best concerts in the history of jazz.

These five original masters of jazz and bebop came together and played a concert that will forever be astounding. Fortunately, it was recorded and is available under various titles and labels. Two of the most common titles are "Jazz at Massey Hall" and "The Concert." It can usually be found under Charlie Parker recordings and has been re-released several times. The musical selections on the album/CD include "Perdido," "All The Things You Are," "Hot House," "A Night in Tunisia," "Wee," and "Salt Peanuts."

Improvisationally, the concert is a masterpiece. The rhythm section is so locked in that everyone is playing as freely and beautifully - harmonically, rhythmically, and melodically - as they have ever been heard to do on a recording. Bud Powell's chords on "All The Things You Are" remain a brilliant display of his genius. The musicians seem to be as blown away and surprised by each other as the audience obviously is. Charlie Parker's solo break on "A Night in Tunisia" is a good example of this. The melodic content of Bird and Diz's solos are nothing short of great, and truly reflect the musical and improvisational mastery of these legendary artists. One can hear Charlie Mingus's foot tap as he solos to an inspired band and audience. Max Roach is in top form, also, as can be heard in his solos and backing. Bird is playing a plastic alto, which seems only to have inspired him more.

All in all, the musicians are so mentally and creatively in tune with each other that they are playing like one giant jazz instrument. This concert is to jazz what the Bach "Chaconne" is to classical music: a masterpiece. Don't miss it, and learn as much as you can from it. It gets better every time you hear it.

Review courtesy Jackie King, All About Jazz

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Concert but Not So Great Remastering Job!, August 8, 2006

By 

Frederick Baptist (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jazz at Massey Hall (Audio CD)

This concert is historic because it showcases what great music can result when you put 5 all-time legends of jazz together to jam. Gillespie, Mingus, The Bird, Powell and Roach each make up the ultimate representatives of their chosen instruments and they show just why on this live, mono recording. Parker's and for me especially Dizzie's solos are extremely memorable on tracks like "Salt Peanuts" and "Night in Tunisia".

This Japanese, mini-lp sleeve version has a nicely-designed packaging although the remastering job isn't that great. The bass is too overpowering and you'll have to turn your bass controls down quite a bit to bring this to a tolerable listening level. This makes this version not the optimal, sound quality-wise, that's out there. You may be better off getting another remastered version.