Getting to know “Bird”
Of course, no jazz website, or a website claiming to write anything about jazz, would be complete without a mention of the great saxophone player, Charlie “Bird” Parker. Of course, the mention of his name can also bring about controversy amongst jazz fans. Not everyone things Charlie was the greatest and even during his lifetime, he was a bit controversial. There are also many myths about him and rumors that started back when he was playing and continue to this day.
Charlie was from Kansas City. He was very close with Dizzy Gillespie and an 18-year-old Miles Davis was once a part of Charlie’s band. He played during the 40s and the relatively early days of what is now considered modern jazz. Dizzy may have been credited with inventing the style known as “be-bop” but Bird was standing right next to him when he did it.
Parker played the sax and he played things that, to thid day, people listen to and wonder how he managed to play them. One legend has it that just before Charlie and his band were to record a young Miles Davis became so frightened because of Parker’s complex arrangements that he froze up, vomited and ran from the building.
Sadly, Charlie did have serious mental problems. Like many jazz musicians, he also had a serious drug habit. He began to suffer serious health problems such as stomach ulcers and such, and died much, much too young. Reportedly when a medical examiner looked at his corpse he judged him to be a man in his late 60s. He was, in fact, only 34-yearsold.
The problem is, it is very hard to stock up your collection of jazz with true Charlie Parker albums. His music has been issued and re-issued so many times, it is almost impossible to find the actual album and they way they sounded.
I found a website that can help. You can link to it here.
From that website, here is writer Llew Walker’s recommendation for buying your Chalie Parker albums:
STUDIO:
Pretty much all of Parker’s studio work is available via three companies; Savoy-Arista, Verve and Spotlite (Dial).
Now’s the Time – The Quartet of Charlie Parker – Verve. One of the best studio albums available. You can check the track ‘Kim’, right here.
Dial Records: The Complete Master Takes – Spotlite Records 559 859-2. Arguably, the best collection of Parker studio work available. Contains the famous ‘Loverman (Real Audio)’ track. Parker was booked to record a session but showed up in a semi-comatose condition having attempted to counter-act the effect of heroin withdrawal with quarts of cheap alcohol and any narcotics he could lay his hands on. He had to be held to the microphone but manages to complete the take and record the funereal music of a man one step away from death. It is a remarkable piece of music, it is the ultimate blues track of all time matching Billie Holiday in passion and expression but also capturing the desperation that seemed to run through Charlie Parker’s life.
LIVE:
Charlie Parker, Boston, 1952 – Uptown Records – UPCD 27-42. Discovered a few years ago in the vaults of the radio station, the quality is great, the tracks perfect, overall one of the best Parker issues available.
Charlie Parker at Storyville – Blue Note – 1988 – 0 777 785108 2 6. A live radio broadcast. Great quality, great tunes, and some nostalgic radio commentary. You can check the track ‘Now’s The Time’ (with Radio MC John McLelland) in Real Audio, right here.
Bird at St. Nicks – Jazz Workshop –OJCCD-114-2 (JWS-501). You can check the track ‘Ornithology’, right here.
Bird on 52nd Street – Jazz Workshop – OJCCD-041-2 (JWS-500) Both these issues are good examples of the type of thing to expect when buying privately recorded material. Chan Parker, and apparently two other people may have recorded this gig as well?
Jazz at the Massey Hall – Debut – OJCCD044-2. This is also known as ‘The Greatest Jazz Concert of All Time’ and is of a high sound quality. Both Parker and Gillespie are outstanding, although the pace of the concert can be exhausting!
COMPILATION (Studio & Live):
Confirmation: The Best of The Verve Years – Verve – 527 815-2 A Double CD that selects the best from Verve’s stock.
Talkin’ Bird – Verve – 559 859-2. Verve trying to repackage its product for another generation! The sleeve notes are awful but funny, and the collection is good too.
Jazz & Blues: Charlie Parker – Bluenite – BN207. A good example of the cheap, public domain issues. Very good value for money, with several hard to get tracks slotted in.
1 Comment
I really enjoy the recordings that Bird did with the Machito Orchestra’s rhythm section, and then eventually, the whole band. He had an interesting way of integrating his style into the Afro-Cuban rhythms. He certainly didn’t adhere to the clave, but his immense musicality really allowed him to adjust straight bebop improvisation. He altered his lines just enough to create a unified sound. Truly classic stuff.