Charlie Parker - Washington Concerts

[Tom 1960]

Any thoughts on this release? The performances are mostly from 1953.

[Eric]

Always liked this one ... and the Bud Powell that came out on the same series.

[JSngry]

It's Bird and he sounds healthy enough.

That's all I need to know, if even that.

[jazzbo]

I wouldn't hesitate.

[kh1958]

The small group tracks added on the CD reissue have some incredible Bird.

[Mark Stryker]

The big band stuff -- some of my favorite Bird, period. He's simply on fire, wailing over arrangements he's never heard, figuring out the key changes and other wrinkles on the fly, double timing like crazy, super loose. From another planet.

[Chuck Nessa]

but the small group sides are better.

[mjzee]

Astonishing small group sides - you'll think the tapes were speeded up.

[Mark Stryker]

I think the larger point here is that it's all great and you should get it. Like now.

[fasstrack]

I couldn't make out the cover w/my dinky cell phone. It's called Charlie Parker with The Orchestra, right? One chart is Thou Swell? Almost like Being in Love? Who's in the small group? How do you cure the heartbreak of psoriasis? Alright, forget the last one...

[jazzbo]

Joel, from an informative review on amazon.com by Jean-Marie Juif:

But to complete this CD, we now can listen to 35 more minutes of unissued music by Bird.Tracks 9 to 14 come from other concerts in Washington: tracks 9 to 12 were recorded at the Howard Theater on March 8,1953, with a trio composed of Jack Holliday,Franklin Skeete and Max Roach, while tracks 13 and 14 were taped at the same place,October 18,1952,with among others,Don Lamond,Zoot Sims,Charlie Byrd,Kay Winding and Earl Swope.Bird's playing is absolutely crazy on the March 1953 date.

[king ubu]

Fine disc indeed, no reason not to get it!

[fasstrack]

Joel, from an informative review on amazon.com by Jean-Marie Juif:

But to complete this CD, we now can listen to 35 more minutes of unissued music by Bird.Tracks 9 to 14 come from other concerts in Washington: tracks 9 to 12 were recorded at the Howard Theater on March 8,1953, with a trio composed of Jack Holliday,Franklin Skeete and Max Roach, while tracks 13 and 14 were taped at the same place,October 18,1952,with among others,Don Lamond,Zoot Sims,Charlie Byrd,Kay Winding and Earl Swope.Bird's playing is absolutely crazy on the March 1953 date.

Max and some primo ex-Herders? I've heard the big band stuff already. I'd get it to hear Bird and Max together again. Thanks.

[Tom 1960]

I think the larger point here is that it's all great and you should get it. Like now.

You've all convinced me. Thanks!

[Larry Kart]

What kh1958 and Chuck said. The small group tracks, along with some of "Bird Boston 1952" with Twardzik, Mingus, and Haynes on Uptown (e.g. "Groovin' High"), probably are the best Bird I know. In Boston he's sublime and relatively relaxed, in D.C. he's incredibly fierce/on fire.

[Mark Stryker]

What kh1958 and Chuck said. The small group tracks, along with some of "Bird Boston 1952" with Twardzik, Mingus, and Haynes on Uptown (e.g. "Groovin' High"), probably are the best Bird I know. In Boston he's sublime and relatively relaxed, in D.C. he's incredibly fierce/on fire.

A taste:

[Mark Stryker]

Coda: Board consenus may favor the small group over the big band overall and I suppose I wouldn't disagree, but Bird's playing on two of the big band tunes specificially -- "Willis" ("Pennies From Heaven") and "Thou Swell" are off the charts. Two of my favorite Bird solos bar none, especially the former. Edit: to note switch to "Thou Swell" from "Roundhouse" -- age playing tricks on me.

Edited October 23, 2012 by Mark Stryker

[bichos]

and don´t forget: bird is playing the white grafton plastic sax at the club kavakos in washington.

keep boppin´

marcel

[Chuck Nessa]

It has always irritated me that the BN tray info says tracks 9-14 are previously unissued. This material came to light on lp in 1983 on the VGM label. I still have my record. Pretty sure they either dubbed from the VGM lp or at least used the same source.

[king ubu]

It has always irritated me that the BN tray info says tracks 9-14 are previously unissued. This material came to light on lp in 1983 on the VGM label. I still have my record. Pretty sure they either dubbed from the VGM lp or at least used the same source.

Is (was) VGM a legitimate label?

Never thought it was - that may explain why they refer too it as unissued.

[Big Beat Steve]

Is (was) VGM a legitimate label?

Never thought it was - that may explain why they refer to it as unissued.

Even if the label wasn't legit this does not make the recordings "unissued".

Instances abound where the (legit or relatively legit) reissuers gleefully state "First official release ever" or "Released in authorized form for the first time" (or whatever) so why play hide and seek here?

Edited October 23, 2012 by Big Beat Steve

[king ubu]

Is (was) VGM a legitimate label?

Never thought it was - that may explain why they refer to it as unissued.

Even if the label wasn't legit this does not make the recordings "unissued".

Instances abound where the (legit or relatively legit) reissuers gleefully state "First official release ever" or "Released in authorized form for the first time" (or whatever) so why play hide and seek here?

I know, but it seems common practice of majors to ignore such releases and label their first official releases as ... first ever releases. Not that I'd agree with that practice, was just asking ...

[JETman]

Is (was) VGM a legitimate label?

Never thought it was - that may explain why they refer to it as unissued.

Even if the label wasn't legit this does not make the recordings "unissued".

Instances abound where the (legit or relatively legit) reissuers gleefully state "First official release ever" or "Released in authorized form for the first time" (or whatever) so why play hide and seek here?

This is yet another indication that most of these labels (in their current state) know nothing about jazz fanatics. Can anyone here honestly state that they've made any purchase based on the inclusion of such a statement made/placed on a cd/album cover?

[Big Beat Steve]

Can anyone here honestly state that they've made any purchase based on the inclusion of such a statement made/placed on a cd/album cover?

Yes - if I had REASONABLE grounds for the assumption that this statement was honest and true and if it was music (style, artist, etc.) where I'd go after almost anything that would come my way. Case in point: Those Uptown CDs.

No idea if the statement on that Charlie Parker disc would have aroused my suspicion or not. There are so many Bird airshots, live recordings, etc. out there and who knows if I'd have had the definitive discography on hand to check (and then, often places and dates are identified incorrectly in there ...).

Edited October 23, 2012 by Big Beat Steve

[JETman]

Can anyone here honestly state that they've made any purchase based on the inclusion of such a statement made/placed on a cd/album cover?

Yes - if I had REASONABLE grounds for the assumption that this statement was honest and true and if it was music (style, artist, etc.) where I'd go after almost anything that would come my way. Case in point: Those Uptown CDs.

No idea if the statement on that Charlie Parker disc would have aroused my suspicion or not. There are so many Bird airshots, live recordings, etc. out there and who knows if I'd have had the definitive discography on hand to check (and then, often places and dates are identified incorrectly in there ...).

Well I suppose that for those who have been jazz fans for decades, this might be true. For those of us who have been listening to/collecting jazz for significantly fewer years, we just buy up everything in sight and ignore the lame statements