Customer Reviews

Modern Red Norvo

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"The Modern Red Norvo" is an exhaustive compilation of Red's output in a few sessions. The first set of 4 songs (with 4 alternate takes) has Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Red is wise enough to let those guys take the lead and pitch in with a solo. That's part 1, not disc 1, and it sounds like a nice find, some sort of Dizzy & Bird lost tapes. The next 20 songs (not counting other takes) are a trio with underrated guitarist Tal Farlow and bass legend Charles Mingus. Naturally, you get a lot more Red in these songs. The songs are mostly mid-to-up-tempo, and Tal's fast guitar lines are very tasty. I've seen a review comment on the deference paid to Mingus. I'm not sure that's happening, the trio sound is very balanced. The whole album is a delight, the playing is excellent throughout. The sound is alright, not to modern standards, but acceptable to my ears. As a side note, the total time is 2:20 for both CD's, but if you cut out the alternate takes, you get ~1:18, depending on which take you prefer.

This previously out of print set has Red with Charlie Parker for over half the first disc and the sound is not too good. Then you get to what you paid for, Red, Tal and Mingus. The tunes this combo recorded, live and in the studio, if left to one good take, could have been fit on one 80 minute disc. Instead what you get here is multiple takes of almost every song with the first take of each, strangely being the worst. Really for historical significance only. If you are a Tal Farlow fan, save your money and get the Mosaic box set. This was an incredible combo for a short period of time. It's a shame their legacy sounds like this.