In a Soulful Mood

Charlie Parker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 1996)
• Original Release Date: November 19, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Music Club
• ASIN: B000003QF3
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,707 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #35 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Bebop

Track Listings

1. Moose the Mooche

2. Yardbird Suite

3. Ornithology

4. A Night in Tunisia

5. Lover Man

6. The Gypsy

7. Hot Blues

8. Cool Blues

9. Relaxin' at Camarillo

10. Stupendous

11. All the Things You Are

12. Bird of Paradise

13. Embraceable You

14. Klact-Oveeseds-Tene

15. Scrapple from the Apple

16. My Old Flame

17. Out of Nowhere

18. How Deep Is the Ocean?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The soul of a giant, March 9, 2004

By 

Tom W.C Oppenheim (Victoria, Australia.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In a Soulful Mood (Audio CD)

I first heard this album when I was thirteen and it was the first jazz album I owned. At the time, my saxophone teacher had given me a transcription of the Parker tune, Yardbird Suite, to practice. I wanted to find a record with that number on it and this was the first I saw. I cannot remember my specific reaction to it, but I think it went somewhere along the lines of 'god this guy can play real fast'. At the time I had no real appreciation of the soul and uncomparable style that he played with, I just liked his fast licks. But the more I listened, and as I collected some more recordings of him, I began to fully appreciate the greatness of this man. The recordings on this album are taken from his 'middle period', around 1946, when he was, in my opinion at his peak. However, some of these recordings can be quite difficult to appreciate for the unseasoned listener. The slower numbers seem, on general consensus, to be easier to listen to. I have always found the ballads on this album, which number quite a few, the most beautiful music Parker ever recorded. However some of the faster tunes, such as Moose the Mooche and Ornithology, show a style of playing that could be classified as avant garde even by contemporary standards. Parker's attack and phrasing was like no other in the history of jazz, even though many have tried to imitate it. Therefore, this album is not the best introduction to jazz (I can't believe it was my first jazz album), or even Charlie Parker. The sound quality is likely to put some people off, as will the somewhat drab solos of the then 19 year old Miles Davis. For the best introduction to the music of this genius, I would direct you to Charlie Parker Plays Standards, a Verve album, which features Parker on some familiar material, making his style a lot easier to listen to. That is not to say that this album should not be listened to. It is a comprehensive account of some of the best playing of Parker, and if pursued can open your soul up to one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time. Listen to the ballad 'My Old Flame' carefully and you will hear, as the critic Nat Hentoff remarked, 'the soul of a giant'.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding collection of Charlie Parker, June 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: In a Soulful Mood (Audio CD)

This is a very impressive collection of Charlie Parker music, with particularly well-produced, high-quality cuts. It's the best Parker collection I've heard, and it's a great introduction to his music. Really really good.

5.0 out of 5 stars Inclusive Charlie Parker Retrospective, February 11, 2011

By 

Ronald E. Lakey (St. Louis, mo) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In a Soulful Mood (Audio CD)

These two CD's represent a chronological compilation of Charlie Parker performances from 1941 through 1953. There are a total of 50 tunes and no repeats. I have most of this but in pieces on Dial, Savoy, Royal Roost, Verve, et. al. For far too long one could only purchase what one could find. However, this was compiled by Music Club in London and represents the finest retrospective on Bird I've found. Personnel are not noted, but it's not difficult to identify Diz, Miles, JJ Johnson, Max Roach to name only a few. Here you can span most of Bird's playing history and hear how he evolved.