Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon recs?

[DavidB.Wilkerson]

Hi. I'm new to the forum, at least to participating in it, and I'm trying to fill a couple of glaring holes in a medium-sized CD collection (around 720-750 discs).

Because I discovered hard bop before I got into bebop, I actually have very little of Charlie Parker. To date, I only have "Bird & Diz" and "The Washington Concerts."

So question #1: What's the best way to collect the live airshots from the Royal Roost, and the early Dial recordings? I considered the four-disc "Complete Live Performances On Savoy," but some of the Amazon commenters complain that too much is missing from that compilation.

I've also thought about getting all or some of the four volumes in the Complete Royal Roost Live Recordings on Savoy, but wonder if that will end up being more Parker than I'll really listen to on a regular basis. I don't mind the presence of Symphony Sid, or the commercials, because I think those add to the ambience.

Also, any suggestions on the best compilation of the Dials is much appreciated.

Question #2: I don't have any Dexter Gordon before 1961. What ares the best examples of his mid-late '40s output?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Dave

Chicago, IL

[Rooster_Ties]

Welcome to the board!! Glad to have you posting.

If you don't yet have this: Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945, it's really quite an amazing and important document (and only fairly recently discovered).

Lots more on the background of this recording here: NEW, NEVER HEARD, DIZZY & BIRD FROM UPTOWN (This WILL Rock Your World!!!!) [Original thread title had all those caps, and with good reason.]

BTW, I got WAY more into hardbop (and beyond), and never quite got bitten as much by the 'bebop' bug -- so my Parker and pre-60's Dex knowledge is admittedly thin. Not to worry, plenty others here will have lots of info to offer.

Edited March 4, 2011 by Rooster_Ties

[John L]

I'm not sure what is missing from the Savoy Complete Live Recordings box other than extended Symphony Sid monologues and radio commercials. I have the whole ball of wax (Savoy issued it on four CDs a long time ago), but find the extended Symphony Sid parts to be repetitious and grating after a while. It is interesting to hear it all once or twice, but I now always reach for the Complete Live Recordings box when I want to hear this music.

Charlie Parker's studio recordings for Savoy and Dial are justifiably celebrated as a cornerstone in recorded jazz. There are box sets of all the masters, or of the masters and alternates. I would recommend the latter. The alternates are just as good as the masters, and usually quite different.

For Dexter Gordon, there are only a handful of albums pre-1961. Certainly, get his first recordings on Savoy and Dial. Thre are also extended live jams from L.A. with Wardell Gray and others from that period. Then there are three recordings that he made in the mid-1950s between his times in the joint. It's all good, but I would get the earlier recordings first. The Dial recordings fit on one disc, and the Savoys were reissued on two discs (although minus some of the alternates).

Edited March 4, 2011 by John L

[Big Beat Steve]

To add to what John L said, personally I find all Dexter Gordon albums from the pre-Blue Note era recommendable.

The Dials and Savoys are the first ones to pick up, of course, then indeed there are the jam session takes with Wardell Gray (finest stuff!), both the LONGISH 1947 tracks ("The Hunt" etc.) and then the 1952 tracks often reissued under the title "The Chase and The Steeplechase"). Don't know which packagings would be the very best deal on CD (I have all of them good ol' vinyl) but all of them are out there.

And personally I also like his Dootone LP "Dexter Blows Hot and Cool" and his Bethlehem item "Daddy Plays The Horn" from the mid-50s.

Fine throughout IMHO.

[BeBop]

I'm a bit pressed for time right now, and you've already got some good thoughts and recommendations, so let me just add a 40% off coupon at Borders.com. 40% makes for some decent box deals.

[crisp]

This thread has inspired me to get the Savoy box from Amazon UK. After all these years. It works out as £7.25 per disc, which is OK for me.

[Guy Berger]

This is a good box: box

[Rooster_Ties]

This is a good box: box

Not often anymore that you actually see tunes referred to "sides" in print (least of all on packaging).

(Nice touch.)

[DavidB.Wilkerson]

Thanks for all of the recommendations. One of many cool things about a forum like this is that you get even more than the answers to your questions.

I'm adding each of your suggestions to my wish list.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who came to hard bop first, and then had to go backward!

Dave

[Late]

I also like his Dootone LP "Dexter Blows Hot and Cool" and his Bethlehem item "Daddy Plays The Horn" from the mid-50s.

I've always thought that Dexter Blows Hot and Cool was a somewhat undervalued record in Dex's discography. Nothing out of the ordinary, but very, very swinging in that laid back Dex way. Some fine Carl Perkins on that set too. The Bethlehem date is also nice.

[Quasimado]

Bird in Time 1940-47 (ESP4050) is a fine 4 cd box, and a labor of love by the compiler Michael Anderson, ex jazz musician and long time jazz DJ. As well as a chronology of superb rare transcripts and recordings, it is supplemented by interviews with Bird (of course), Max Roach, Milt Jackson, Earl Coleman etc. Nice booklets, too.

Q

[Guy Berger]

Thanks for all of the recommendations. One of many cool things about a forum like this is that you get even more than the answers to your questions.

I'm adding each of your suggestions to my wish list.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who came to hard bop first, and then had to go backward!

Dave

That happened to me as well (actually, I started with fusion and worked my way backward). I would guess it is in fact typical of most new jazz listeners today.

Guy

[AmirBagachelles]

Get cheap, used Bird At The Roost The Savoy Sessions discs, all four. Don't pay up for packaging or sound enhancement. And I would certainly hunt for Bebop's Heartbeat.

[Brad]

Besides the Savoy Dial box and the Live Savoy box, you need to get the Verve box, a 10 cd set. A few years ago, Verve released this in a master take basis. Don't know if they're still currently available but I'm sure you can find it on the secondary market.

Now, if you can't get enough Bird after all that, there is the Benedetti Mosaic box, just Bird solos and not great sound.

Also check out his KC days. There are a couple of Cds. Also, the JATP material is worth checking out.

[imeanyou]

I also like his Dootone LP "Dexter Blows Hot and Cool" and his Bethlehem item "Daddy Plays The Horn" from the mid-50s.

I've always thought that Dexter Blows Hot and Cool was a somewhat undervalued record in Dex's discography. Nothing out of the ordinary, but very, very swinging in that laid back Dex way. Some fine Carl Perkins on that set too. The Bethlehem date is also nice.

Dexter was the first tenor player I really listened to. I can remember the first few times I listened to 'Our Man In Paris', pure unalloyed bliss. After the obvious BN stuff I picked up 'Daddy' and 'Blows Hot and Cool'. The latter is very easygoing and accessible. The ballad 'Don't Worry About Me' gets a heartwrenching performance and Perkins is a very sympathetic accompanist. I'm having that played when I check out. Classic Dex on the cover too. The 3cd live set 'Nights At The Keystone' is a 'must have'.