Search - Charlie Parker :: Bird Returns

Great performances, too bad about the sound.

Shotgun Method | NY... No, not *that* NY | 12/05/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I don't usually make it a habit to gripe about sound quality. After all, I listen to plenty of music that would definitely fit the "lo-fi" tag. And Charlie Parker is without a doubt the greatest man to pick up an alto sax. The performances by him and his various sidemen (especially the incredible Max Roach) on this set are ON FIRE. What else would you expect?



However, the sound quality is another story altogether. This record is composed of live recordings circa '48-49, and it definitely sounds like it--godawful. Even with the remastering, the instruments are so muddy and poorly mixed that you have no clue what the hell is going on half the time, and on top of that there is some crowd noise adding additional interference. The rhythm instruments are especially buried, with bass being inaudible a good percentage of the time. Even Parker's sax sounds tinny and hollow, what a shame.



The material on this set is magnificent...Groovin' High, Koko, Thriving On A Riff, Hot House, etc. All Bird standards and bop-defining tracks, no doubt. Too bad the cramped sonics render them nearly unlistenable without headphones. If you're new to Bird, start with 1950's Bird & Diz and 1953's Jazz At Massey Hall (which also features Charles Mingus, Bud Powell, and Roach...what a lineup). Leave The Bird Returns to completists."