Charlie Parker - Washington Concerts

[Big Beat Steve]

I guess you're right - I, for one, started buying/collecting at 15 in 1975.

(And as I am running out of storage space, I try to fill some of those huge gaps (that still remain indeed) as efficiently as possible - avoiding duplications, e.g. by picking up unissueds that fit my tastes, does help there )

Edited October 23, 2012 by Big Beat Steve

[Mark Stryker]

This discussion prompted me to give all of this a listen for the first time in a very long time. Yes, the enthusiasm for the small group material expressed by others here is of course warranted and I'm guilty of not giving it full due. 3/8/53 material, esp. "Out of Nowhere," "Cool Blues" and "Anthropology" include mad-to-live, ridiculously wild and risky blowing. As good as any Bird anywhere. Max's presence a big kick in the pants, perhaps? Still, I put the best of the big band solos in that class "Willis," "Fine and Dandy," "Thou Swell." One thing I've always loved about those tracks is hearing Bird working through standard changes that he didn't record often or at all -- you hear him really improvising and creating within his language with less fallback to (his own, of course) favorite patterns that he favored on, say, "Ornithology" or a blues in C like "Cool Blues."

Checking the recording dates, another thought occurs. With the big band stuff from late Feb. 53 and the small group from early March 53, this was clearly a terrific window for prime Bird. His playing and behavior could be pretty erratic at this point, but clearly he was feeling good those weeks. I haven't checked the discographies, but I wonder what other stuff, if any, was taped in that time frame and whether it's anywhere near as good as the Washington material.

Edited October 23, 2012 by Mark Stryker

[kh1958]

The Massey Hall concert was on May 15, and there are a couple of excellent quartet studio dates in the temporal vicinity for Norman Granz: the date which produced Chi Chi, Now's the Time and Confirmation was on July 28, and there was a December 30, 1952 date which produced Kim and Cosmic Rays.

[JSngry]

The Open Door material was from, when? July 1953? That's some really free Bird as well.

[Mark Stryker]

Here's what was recorded in February and March 1953. I've heard some but not all of this stuff but wouldn't venture a definitive judgment without relistening down the line. Anyone think any of this is on the same level as the Washington material?

Charlie Parker Quintet

Charlie Parker (as) Valdo Williams (p -1,2) Steep Wade (p -3/5) Dick Garcia (g) Hal Gaylor (b -1,2) Bob Rudd (b -3/5) Bill Graham (d -1,2) Bobby Malloy (d -3/5)

"Chez Paree Nightclub", Montreal, Quebec, Canada, February 7, 1953

1. Ornithology Jazz Showcase LP 5003; Uptown UP 27.36

2. Cool Blues Uptown UP 27.36

3. Moose The Mooche -

4. Embraceable You Jazz Showcase LP 5003; Uptown UP 27.36

5. Now's The Time Uptown UP 27.36

* Jazz Showcase LP 5003 Charlie Parker - Bird On The Road

* Uptown UP 27.36 Charlie Parker - Montreal 1953

Charlie Parker Septet

Bill Harris (tb) Charlie Mariano, Charlie Parker (as) Harry Johnson (ts) Sonny Truitt (p) Chubby Jackson (b) Morey Feld (d) unknown (vo)

"Bandbox", NYC, February 16, 1953

Your Father's Moustache Queen-disc (It) Q-002

* Queen-disc (It) Q-002 Charlie Parker/Miles Davis/Dizzy Gillespie - Bird With Miles And Dizzy

Joe Theimer Orchestra

Bob Carey, Ed Leddy, Marky Markowitz, Charlie Walp (tp) Dan Spiker, Earl Swope, Rob Swope (tb) Charlie Parker, Jim Riley (as) Ben Lary, Jim Parker, Angelo Tompros (ts) Jack Nimitz (bars) Jack Holliday (p) Merton Oliver (b) Joe Theimer (d, cond)

"Club Kavakos", Washington, DC, February 22, 1953

Fine And Dandy Elektra/Musician E1 60019

These Foolish Things -

Light Green -

Thou Swell -

Wills -

Don't Blame Me -

Something To Remember You By / The Blue Room -

Roundhouse -

* Elektra/Musician E1 60019 Charlie Parker With The Orchestra - One Night In Washington

Charlie Parker Quartet

Charlie Parker (as) Jack Holliday (p) Mert Oliver (b) Max Roach (d)

"Howard Theater", Washington, DC, March 8, 1953

Cool Blues VGM 0009

Out Of Nowhere -

Ornithology -

Anthropology -

* VGM 0009 Charlie Parker - Yardbird-DC-53

Charlie Parker Quartet

Charlie Parker (as) Red Garland (p) Bernie Griggs (b) Roy Haynes (d)

WHDH radio broadcast, "Storyville Club", Boston, MA, March 10, 1953

Moose The Mooche Blue Note BT 85108

I'll Walk Alone -

Ornithology -

Out Of Nowhere -

* Blue Note BT 85108, CDP 7 85108-2 Charlie Parker At Storyville

Charlie Parker Quintet

Charlie Parker (as) Milt Buckner (org) Bernie McKay (g) Cornelius Thomas (d)

"Bandbox", NYC, March 23, 1953

Groovin' High Columbia JC 34831

* Columbia JC 34831 Charlie Parker - Summit Meeting At Birdland

Charlie Parker Quartet

Charlie Parker (as) Walter Bishop Jr. (p) Kenny O'Brien (b) Roy Haynes (d)

"Bandbox", NYC, March 30, 1953

Theme: Caravan / Coool Blues Klacto (E) MG 100

Star Eyes -

My Little Suede Shoes -

Ornithology -

52nd Street Theme -

Diggin' Diz -

52nd Street Theme -

Embraceable You -

52nd Street Theme -

* Klacto (E) MG 100 Charlie Parker - Star Eyes

[JSngry]

I've always enjoyed the Montreal & Boston stuff a little more than usual. But then again, I get into Bird no matter what, always find something there that's like whaaaaaatttt?

[kh1958]

The stray track with Milt Buckner is a nice one.

Recently, I've stumbled across a couple of Bird CDs containing broadcast material of good quality that I haven't heard. Here's one of them.

http://www.amazon.com/Live-Sessions-Charlie-Parker/dp/B005QD0ULK/ref=sr_1_56?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1351008476&sr=1-56&keywords=Charlie+Parker+Live

[kh1958]

This was the other "new" New Bird release (the version obtainable from amazon is a CDR).

http://www.amazon.com/New-Bird-Rare-Recordings-Interviews/dp/B00003Q04S/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1351015933&sr=1-4&keywords=Charlie+Parker+New+Bird