Customer Reviews

Tribute to Charlie Parker

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This album is one of the best I have ever purchased. I must own more than 300 Jazz CDs and this ranks in the top 10%! The CD is divided into two parts: a jazz quintet part (sax, trumpet, drums, etc..) and then as the title indicates, with strings. The chronology of Parker's life (which is the entire first part of the CD) as protrayed through this recantation of the book along with musical examples is a brilliant way to get folks to learn a little more about Bird. The second half of the CD is more than impressive as well.
The playing on this album is some of the best I have heard. Peter King, inparticular, is an amazing saxophonist, and I wish I had been introduced to his playing sooner. There is little out there by him in the United States (I am assuming this is b/c he is from England), and because of this, I feel he is overlooked. However, his tone sings right through and his licks are as smooth as Stitt's but sound more like Parker's combined with King's improvisational concepts, which are right in the pocket and never "out."
I would highly recommend this album to any Bird and/or Bop fan. Wonderful playing. I hope to hear more from these guys very soon!

This is a beautifully-produced live club date with the Charlie Watts Quintet (Peter King on alto sax) and an eight-member string section that emphasizes Parker's romantic mood. The first set includes all of 1991's "From One Charlie" pieces that are now unavailable elsewhere. There are warm and intimate takes of songs associated with Bird -- "Cool Blues," "Dewey's Square," Gerry Mulligan's "Rocker" -- and Bernard Fowler contributes a vocal to "Lover Man." The settings may be a bit lush for listeners wanting more adventurous material (a criticism even of Bird's own recordings with strings). But the project is a terrific gesture of respect on Watts' part for one of his musical heroes, and he's got a career ahead of him should he decide to ever give up that day job!

Why not enjoy an artist for who they are?..Charlie Watts has on this record given back to music fans a true insight as to who he is. And although he probably got flack from Jazz purists, this album is accesible, enjoyable and gives a great taste of how exciting Jazz music can be.

A very good record of Jazz by Charlie Watts. I have almost all of his Jazz records and they are all good Jazz.

this CD blew me away. incredible talent, very creative guy charlie watts some VERY hot alto playing!! had a large inpact on my playing as well.