Search - Charlie Parker :: Timeless Charlie Parker

Nice introduction to Parker's dramatic solos...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 04/04/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is only my second exposure to Mr. Parker. The first came via a low-budget cassette compliation with terrible sound. This CD has excellent sound quality considering the fact that the recordings were made between 1945-48. Known as the co-founder of bebop, along with Dizzy G., "Bird" is accompanied on these 17 tunes by Diz, Miles, Max Roach, Bud Powell, Curley Russell and John Lewis. There are moments during this more than 45-minute CD in which those players contribute and even solo, but really, this collection is heavily dominated by Parker and his alto sax. All 17 songs are Bird originals, averaging less than three minutes in length. I give it four stars instead of five for two relatively minor reasons: the songs begin to sound the same after awhile (although all of them are good) and the booklet, while not bad, could have been expanded. I am glad I own it as my only Charlie Parker CD. It does present the excitement of early bebop, and it makes it clear that Bird certainly influenced everyone in jazz who came after him, especially the horn players like Davis and Coltrane. For the price, I don't see how music collectors are going to find a nicer value."