Genius Of Charlie Parker CD

Personnel: Charlie Parker (alto saxophone); Tiny Grimes (guitar); Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Dorham, Miles Davis (trumpet); John Lewis, Clyde Hart, Duke Jordan, Al Haig, Bud Powell (piano); Curly Russell, Tommy Potter, Jimmy Butts (bass instrument); Max Roach (drums).
This special edition of The Genius of Charlie Parker was released in commemoration of the alto saxophonist's stint with the Savoy and Dial labels in the '40s, some 60 years prior. The studio sessions were issued under Parker's name with the exceptions of the Tiny Grimes Quintette ("Tiny's Tempo," 1944), the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Quintet ("Shaw 'Nuff," 1945), and the Miles Davis All Stars ("Sippin' at Bell's," 1947). While the studio sessions are marked by jaw-dropping ensemble interplay, the radio broadcasts, taken from live dates at the Royal Roost in New York in 1948 and 1949, show off distinctive, spontaneous brilliance, not only from Bird but from his cohorts as well. While the live broadcast recordings are a bit muddy, the state-of-the-art transfers from acetates and tape masters do brighten up these recommended, early bop sessions. ~ Al Campbell
For jazz lovers, it would be hard to find a two-disc collection of saxophonist Charlie Parker's classic recordings that trumps THE GENIUS OF CHARLIE PARKER. This compilation includes Parker's finest work for the Savoy and Dial record labels, and these sessions date back to the mid-to-late 1940s, when bebop was rapidly and indelibly transforming jazz.
There are many highlights on GENIUS. Among them is "Anthropology," performed live and at a breakneck speed. In addition to Parker's solo, which still sounds modern, vibraphonist Milt Jackson's nimble playing adds a layer of sophistication to this track. Other timeless tunes such as "Yardbird Suite," "Now's the Time," and "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)" remind listeners of Parker's bluesy and lyrical side, while a rare take of "Embraceable You" underscores the tenor man's ability to play slow, dreamy tempos. The swing era may have been the Golden Age of jazz, but these recordings--featuring legends Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Max Roach--represent jazz's coming of age.