Customer Reviews

Yardbird Suite: The Ultimate Collection

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For years I shied away from delving into Charlie Parker's music for lack of the knowledge to discriminate among a huge number of recordings, many of them of quite dubious provenance. These problems are unnecessary today, with guides like Penguin and AMG easily available. And now this fine Rhino package makes things even easier for someone checking out Bird for the first time. Great care has gone into the selection of tracks, as well as the packaging, with informative liner notes, photos, and gratuitously elegant touches like the spirals found on the clear underlay for each of the 2 discs.

Here, however, is something to think about -- do you want an attractive Parker box for your collection (this is a box containing 2 discs and a booklet) for show, or do you really want to listen to Bird intensely and repeatedly? This collection covers Bird's entire career, including several live sides with strings from his last years, which I personally have little interest in. I suggest that you might consider starting with the Savoy masters, say THE GENIUS OF CHARLIE PARKER, and/or the excellent collection of later Verve sides, BIRD'S BEST BOP ON VERVE. (There doesn't seem to be a single-disc collection of the Dial sides, and YARDBIRD SUITE contains a good dose of Dials.) You can't go wrong diving in right here, but if you hear this collection after hearing some of his essential Savoy, Dial and Verve recordings in concentrated form, you may better appreciate its riches. If this is where you start, listen closely -- if you do, you're certain to want to hear more!

This 2CD Set is a great collection of Charlie Parker. There are a total of 38 tracks that cover his career from his early days as part of Dizzy Gillespie's band to his solo bebop recordings.

A This is a great set for anyone interesting in Parker's music. n added bonus to this set is that the packaging is excellent. each CD is in an individual "booklet style" case and it includes a 50 page highly readable booklet. The only disappointing feature about this set was that all the tracks are found on other albums(mainly from the Savoy, Dial and Verve catalogs). and there were no "new" unreleased recordings here. A good sampling that is ideal for anyone beginning a jazz collection but it will make you want to go and buy more of Parker. I would recommend the Complete Dial Sessions set.

As pointed out, there are a few fatal flaws with this set. Besides the questionable source material and occasional overuse of noise reduction (both heard on this compilation's mastering of "Ko Ko," with the unusual 'twang' at the beginning and the heavily compressed sound quality), there are actually a few tracks where wrong takes were selected; basically, the compilation's claims of using only master takes are false. This CD substitutes inferior, alternate takes of "Relaxin' at Camarrillo" and "Embraceable You" for the originals. As for the track that somehow had its piano intro edited out, that would be "Moose the Mooche."

A year ago, I'd still recommend this set despite these flaws, but with the monumental "Complete Savoy & Dial Recordings: 1944-1948" having been released (with better sound, though a few minor problems with packaging and a few controversial pitch corrections), I'd have to go with that one. Yeah, "Yardbird Suite" is a lot cheaper, and most people will end up springing for it, but the 8CD box set is simply incredible.

Anybody who listens to post-WW2 jazz eventually has to come to terms with altoist Charlie Parker, a.k.a. Bird. But Bird's recording output was so immense that finding the right starting point is difficult. If you feel bold and have a large wallet, definitely spring for the Savoy & Dial box set. As an introductory package for the Bird neophyte, however, this set is probably a better choice. There are so many classic recordings here --"Salt Peanuts" (electrifying!), "Koko", "Now's the Time", "The Hymn", "Donna Lee"... It samples from Bird's entire career -- from the early, proto-bop sessions with Dizzy Gillespie and a swing rhythm section to his classic Quintet with Max Roach and a very young Miles Davis. Later recordings include a reunion with Dizzy ("Bloomdido"), some of the recordings with strings, and several tracks from a live performance with Dizzy and Bud Powell. If you're visiting the Birdhouse for the first time, walk in through the Yardbird Suite.

I pretty much agree with the things everyone else has written, but let me add that there are some flaws with this set.

First, the tracks have been cleaned up with noise reduction, and for the most part, they are done well, particularly on the Savoy tracks which sound rather noisy on the 20-bit remasters from Denon. However, on "Koko," one of the two best tracks Parker ever cut, the sound is HEAVILY compressed and muffled. There's also a high-pitched, spacey twang at the beginning of the track, which makes me question the source material (you don't hear this abnormality on "The Genius of Charlie Parker," one of the Denon CD's).

The other thing is one of the Dial tracks (the name escapes me right now, but if memory serves, it had a running time of 2:54) has the first 10 seconds clipped off! I only found this out when I picked up "The Complete Dial Sessions" and was surprised by an easy-going piano intro to the same track.

Despite these flaws, it's still a great introduction for neophytes, hitting almost all the high points in his years with Diz, his recordings at Savoy and Dial, and some of the Verve material. There is some essential Verve material missing, like the first 3 minutes of the JATP performance of "Oh Lady Be Good!" among others, and it could've been fitted on with at least 20 minutes to spare on these CD's. Maybe they couldn't get it for legal reasons, but as a result, this set isn't a definitive nor a comprehensive overview of his career. In other words, get this as a primer, but don't pick it up if you want to build a serious Parker collection.

In terms of sound quality, track selection, album packaging and linear notes, this had long been the gold standard...until the release of the Boss Bird boxed set. Granted, Rhino's compilation still holds the top seat in terms of packaging and liner notes, but as most of us buy CDs for the songs and their quality, the Boss Bird set is the way to go. I gave my copy of this set away to a friend of mine a year ago whem I purchased Boss Bird and the Savoy/Dial Masters. If you're only going to buy one Charlie Parker collection, you can get more tracks for less money by purchasing Boss Bird.

Simply stated, Charlie Parker was the best alto saxaphone player who has ever lived, and this is where one's collection of his music should begin. This album features a wide variaty of tunes, including ballads, hard bop, blues, and some live material. From the wild chorus of "Ko-Ko," to the goofy fun of Gillespie's "Salt Peanuts," to the catchy groove of "Parker's Mood," this album will pull the listener in five direction at once. Parker's playing is at it's best. Perhaps the best thing about this album is the diversity of the other musicians. Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, and Thelonius Monk give the songs a little of their own personal flaver. It is clear, though, that Charlie Parker is in control, and he leads the other players at break-neck speed. Part of the fun is listening to them trying to keep up. With this album, the listener gets, without a doubt, the full range of Charlie Parker.

This is the first Charlie Parker I came into contact with, and yes this is an incredible way to start your Bird collection. I am utterly amazed by Parker and bop. Bird and many others wrote this utterly complex, amazing, and beautiful music. I can say nothing about Bird that others haven't said at least 1,000 times before, so I will refrain. Just buy the album, not for me, for you. Bird lives indeed.

The best beginner set of Parker I have ever seen. The only downside is that, once you have heard this, you are going to want to run out and buy up all of his stuff, and in the best possible sound so that this will just be a temporary stop-gap for you. But I highly recommend it if you want to hear what all the fuss is about.

This two-disc collection is Charlie Parker at his best. It includes recordings with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, and Max Roach. It gives the listener a good taste of all of Bird's styles, the up tempo kickers like "Shaw Nuff," ballads like "All the Things you Are," and blues like "Parker's Mood." Any jazz fan will love this album.