Bird & Diz [VINYL]

Although i have most of these tracks on a compilation Charlie Parker box set, i hadn't paid much attention to this 1950 session recorded for the Verve label...for years just focussing on the earlier Parker material on the Savoy and Dial labels (1946 to 1948 approx). The band for this album consisted of Charlie Parker (alto sax), Dizzie Gillespie (trumpet), Thelonious Monk (piano) , Buddy Rich (drums) and Curly Russell (bass)..............listening to these tracks over the last week, as they are presented on Bird and Diz has been an exhilerating experience....this session was the final studio union of Parker and Gillespie, and the only one with Monk at the piano and Buddy Rich on drums.... the recording quality is excellent - clearer and with far greater clarity than the earlier Parker recordings...All the band are at the top of their game - Parker and Gillespie seem to be engaged in continual and relentless dualling...Monk and Rich and Russell provide their own unique styles ...it all fits..The 1st six tracks are from the original 10" vinyl, released in 1952 on Verve , two years after it was recorded. Many of the critics at the time viewed it as a missed opportunity.....also much criticism on the decision to employ the services of big band drummer Buddy Rich, whose drumming style was intrusive and out of step....apparently..... not an opinion i share at all..All the tracks are up there with the best work of Parker and Gillespie. i won't go into each one, but would like to single out 'leap frog' which is a must hear track....its a frenetic parker composition that doesn't let up for 2.29 mins. not that long admittedly, but at the end of it you need to take a breath.. its a perfect example of sparring between Parker and Gillespie, who try to outdo each other and sound like they are fighting for their lives....incredible music by these masters of improvisation..in addition to the first 6 tracks there are 18 bonus tracks, 10 of these being complete and incomplete takes of Leap frog, for those who didnt get enough the first time round...all the bonus tracks are excellent and pefectly flesh out the original 10" album release, which only ran for around 20 mins...im normally not a fan of bonus tracks but here i make an exception... there is also some studio chatter......the cd sleeve is a gatefold card design...the booklet is very detailed and informative..there is an essay by journalist James Patrick....for fans of all the musicians, especially Parker and Gillespie, this album is an essential purchase..

Very cool.

Bird and Diz at their very best - This is the 'BEBOP' business - Most serious collectors will already have these but so great to find them all together in one 'Red Hot' box.... If you want 'Bop by the Best' THEN YOU MUST BUY THIS!!!

This 3 CD set is a bit of a mixed bag. The first disc includes the "controversial " sessions with Buddy Rich on drums which still comes in for a lot of criticism. Personally, I love these sessions and if Rich never really managed to understand be-bop, the drive of his playing is far from disadvantageous. Dizzy Gillespie is equal to Bird on this session and the inclusion of Thelonious Monk on piano serves to add to the exotic line up. I think this is a classic but the second disc of the Massey Hall concert is absolutely essential, despite Charlie Mingus over-dubbing his bass parts which were originally inaudible on the original recording. The combination of Charlie Parker with Bud Powell is a match made in heaven and the extended playing time of each tune which allows all three soloists to stretch out ensures that this is one of the very best live recordings in the history of jazz. It is a bit of a shame that the third disc is a bit of dud - I love Dizzy Gillespie's playing but these live recordings have too much larking around on and despite favourites like "Tin Tin Deo" being included in the set, it would have been better to have incorporated some of the original Savoy recordings instead. For the budget price, this is a steal - the second disc is worth the price alone. A few recordings with the sophomore Kenny Dorham fill out disc one but they only hint at the brilliance of the trumpeter that would manifest itself on Blue Note within the next 10-15 years. The liner notes assist with personal but offer no insight.

Solid old school jazz

Some brilliant jazz greats playing hot jazz. Burning!

Great CD set featuring Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parking plus other great musicians

EXCELLENT FOR 3 ALBUMS GREAT JAZZ