Recorded between 1944 & 1948. Through the miracle of
high-resolution digital transfer and mastering technology, Bird
enthusiasts can now get an earful of the shape of Charlie Parker's
musical accomplishments for Savoy and Dial in the 1940s. Available as a
eight-disc box set, the alto saxophonist is recorded in various
configurations as performer and bandleader with such mainstream jazz
greats as trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis, pianists Bud Powell and Erroll Garner, drummer Max Roach, trombonist J.J. Johnson, and bassist Ray Brown, to name but a few.
Charlie Parker draws on his pungent roots and rhythms of the Kansas City jazz scene on "Parker's Mood" and makes a deep statement of the existence of the blues in the jazz tradition. His freedom and rapid-fire sax lines on "Yardbird Suite" serve to confirm his excellence in crafting polished improvisations and solos. One of Parker's strongest compositions, "Orinithology," is pure, unadulterated bebop, and the unique sound of Parker's alto saxophone is clearly articulated through smoothly executed phrasings and cutting, focused energy. Parker picks up the tenor saxophone with the Miles Davis All-Stars on such great songs as "Milestones" and "Sippin' at Bell's." Overall, Bird audiophiles, jazz educators, and historians should be prepared to be impressed. This collection is arguably Bird's most important recording studio work. All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Personnel: Charlie Parker (alto saxophone); Earl Coleman (vocals); Wardell Gray, Lucky Thompson (tenor saxophone); Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Howard McGhee (trumpet); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Clyde Hart, Sadik Hakim, George Handy, Jimmy Bunn, Erroll Garner, Dodo Marmarosa, Bud Powell, John Lewis, Duke Jordan (piano); Tiny Grimes, Arvin Garrison, Barney Kessel (guitar); Jimmy Butts, Curly Russell, Red Callender, Tommy Potter, Nelson Boyd, Ray Brown, Vic McMillan, Robert Kesterton (bass); Harold "Doc" West, Max Roach, Stan Levey, Roy Porter, Don Lamond, Max Roach (drums).
Disc 1
01 - Tiny's Tempo - 2:55
02 - I'll Always Love You Just the Same - 3:01
03 - Romance Without Finance - 3:04
04 - Red Cross - 3:10
05 - Tiny's Tempo - 3:03
06 - Tiny's Tempo - 3:02
07 - I'll Always Love You Just the Same - 3:00
08 - Romance Without Finance - 3:08
09 - Romance Without Finance - 1:03
10 - Romance Without Finance - 3:09
11 - Romance Without Finance - 0:46
12 - Red Cross - 3:20
13 - Warming Up a Riff - 2:37
14 - Billie's Bounce - 3:10
15 - Now's the Time - 3:17
16 - Thriving from a Riff - 2:57
17 - Meandering - 3:19
18 - KoKo - 2:57
19 - Billie's Bounce - 2:44
20 - Billie's Bounce - 1:45
21 - Billie's Bounce - 3:07
22 - Billie's Bounce - 1:39
23 - Now's the Time - 0:22
24 - Now's the Time - 0:39
25 - Now's the Time - 3:09
26 - Thriving from a Riff - 3:01
27 - Thriving from a Riff - 0:26
28 - KoKo - 0:43
29 - Diggin' Diz - 2:50
Disc 2
01 - Moose the Mooche - 3:04
02 - Yardbird Suite - 2:56
03 - Ornithology - 3:02
04 - A Night in Tunisia - 3:06
05 - Moose the Mooche - 3:01
06 - Moose the Mooche - 2:56
07 - Yardbird Suite - 2:39
08 - Ornithology - 2:59
09 - Ornithology - 3:19
10 - A Night in Tunisia - 0:50
11 - A Night in Tunisia - 3:06
12 - Max Making Wax - 2:31
13 - Lover Man - 3:20
14 - The Gypsy - 3:02
15 - Bebop - 2:55
16 - Donna Lee - 2:33
17 - Chasin' the Bird - 2:45
18 - Cheryl - 2:59
19 - Buzzy - 2:31
20 - Donna Lee - 0:17
21 - Donna Lee - 3:01
22 - Donna Lee - 2:32
23 - Donna Lee - 2:37
24 - Chasin' the Bird - 2:54
25 - Chasin' the Bird - 0:21
26 - Chasin' the Bird - 3:00
27 - Cheryl - 0:06
28 - Buzzy - 3:00
29 - Buzzy - 0:37
30 - Buzzy - 2:39
31 - Buzzy - 0:20
Disc 3
01 - This Is Always - 3:13
02 - Dark Shadows - 3:08
03 - Bird's Nest - 2:45
04 - Cool Blues - 3:07
05 - This Is Always - 3:11
06 - Dark Shadows - 4:05
07 - Dark Shadows - 3:15
08 - Dark Shadows - 2:59
09 - Bird's Nest - 2:52
10 - Bird's Nest - 2:51
11 - Cool Blues - 1:58
12 - Cool Blues - 2:22
13 - Cool Blues - 2:52
14 - Relaxin' at Camarillo - 3:08
15 - Cheers - 3:06
16 - Carvin' the Bird - 2:49
17 - Stupendous - 3:01
18 - Relaxin' at Camarillo - 3:04
19 - Relaxin' at Camarillo - 3:04
20 - Relaxin' at Camarillo - 3:01
21 - Cheers - 3:17
22 - Cheers - 3:08
23 - Cheers - 3:08
24 - Carvin' the Bird - 2:50
25 - Stupendous - 2:58
Disc 4
01 - Milestones - 2:38
02 - Little Willie Leaps - 2:53
03 - Half Nelson - 2:45
04 - Sippin' at Bell's - 2:25
05 - Milestones - 0:10
06 - Milestones - 2:46
07 - Little Willie Leaps - 0:36
08 - Little Willie Leaps - 3:11
09 - Half Nelson - 2:52
10 - Sippin' at Bell's - 0:57
11 - Sippin' at Bell's - 0:07
12 - Sippin' at Bell's - 2:31
13 - Dexterity - 2:59
14 - Bongo Bop - 2:46
15 - Dewey Square - 3:07
16 - The Hymn - 2:28
17 - Bird of Paradise - 3:11
18 - Embraceable You - 3:22
19 - Dexterity - 2:58
20 - Bongo Bop - 2:47
21 - Dewey Square - 3:31
22 - Dewey Square - 3:04
23 - The Hymn - 2:32
24 - Bird of Paradise - 3:06
25 - Bird of Paradise - 3:09
26 - Embraceable You - 3:40
Disc 5
01 - Bird Feathers - 2:52
02 - Klact-oveeseds-tene - 3:06
03 - Scrapple from the Apple - 2:57
04 - My Old Flame - 3:11
05 - Out of Nowhere - 3:49
06 - Don't Blame Me - 2:48
07 - Klact-oveeseds-tene - 3:06
08 - Scrapple from the Apple - 2:39
09 - Out of Nowhere - 4:03
10 - Out of Nowhere - 3:06
11 - Barbados - 2:29
12 - Au-Leu-Cha - 2:55
13 - Constellation - 2:30
14 - Parker's Mood - 3:05
15 - Barbados - 2:39
16 - Barbados - 0:46
17 - Barbados - 2:35
18 - Au-Leu-Cha - 0:40
19 - Constellation - 0:25
20 - Constellation - 2:34
21 - Constellation - 2:08
22 - Constellation - 0:24
23 - Parker's Mood - 0:07
24 - Parker's Mood - 3:26
25 - Parker's Mood - 0:13
26 - Parker's Mood - 2:12
Disc 6
01 - Drifting on a Reed - 3:02
02 - Quasimodo - 2:59
03 - Charlie's Wig - 2:46
04 - Bongo Beep - 3:05
05 - Crazeology - 3:04
06 - How Deep Is the Ocean ? - 3:32
07 - Drifting on a Reed - 2:59
08 - Drifting on a Reed - 2:58
09 - Quasimodo - 2:57
10 - Charlie's Wig - 2:51
11 - Charlie's Wig - 2:51
12 - Bongo Beep - 3:05
13 - Crazeology - 1:04
14 - Crazeology - 0:36
15 - Crazeology - 3:06
16 - How Deep Is the Ocean ? - 3:13
17 - Another Air Do - 2:40
18 - Bluebird - 2:52
19 - Klaunstance - 2:44
20 - Bird Gets the Worm - 2:39
21 - Another Air Do - 0:17
22 - Another Air Do - 0:47
23 - Another Air Do - 1:07
24 - Bluebird - 2:56
25 - Bird Gets the Worm - 3:03
26 - Bird Gets the Worm - 0:10
Disc 7
01 - Perhaps - 2:34
02 - Marmaduke - 2:45
03 - Steeplechase - 3:06
04 - Merry Go Round - 2:28
05 - Perhaps - 2:12
06 - Perhaps - 0:31
07 - Perhaps - 2:10
08 - Perhaps - 0:21
09 - Perhaps - 0:42
10 - Perhaps - 2:25
11 - Marmaduke - 0:06
12 - Marmaduke - 1:17
13 - Marmaduke - 0:55
14 - Marmaduke - 0:08
15 - Marmaduke - 2:58
16 - Marmaduke - 0:09
17 - Marmaduke - 1:01
18 - Marmaduke - 0:06
19 - Marmaduke - 3:06
20 - Marmaduke - 0:37
21 - Marmaduke - 0:50
22 - Steeplechase - 0:09
23 - Merry Go Round - 2:27
24 - Hallelujah - 4:00
25 - Get Happy - 3:43
26 - Slam Slam Blues - 4:32
27 - Congo Blues - 3:57
28 - Hallelujah - 4:12
29 - Hallelujah - 4:04
30 - Get Happy - 4:04
31 - Slam Slam Blues - 5:06
32 - Congo Blues - 1:07
33 - Congo Blues - 1:18
34 - Congo Blues - 4:02
35 - Congo Blues - 3:55
Disc 8
01 - Groovin' High - 2:45
02 - All the Things You Are - 2:49
03 - Dizzy Atmosphere - 2:52
04 - Salt Peanuts - 3:19
05 - Shaw 'Nuff - 3:04
06 - Lover Man - 3:25
07 - Hot House - 3:15
08 - Dizzy's Boogie - 3:10
09 - Flat Foot Floogie - 2:33
10 - Poppity Pop - 2:58
11 - Slim's Jam - 3:16
12 - Dizzy's Boogie - 3:16
13 - Flat Foot Floogie - 2:48
14 - Blues - 1:46
15 - Yardbird Suite - 2:13
16 - Lullaby in Rhythm, Part 1 - 1:32
17 - Lullaby in Rhythm, Part 2 - 1:35
18 - Home Cooking I : Opus - 2:24
19 - Home Cooking II : Cherokee - 2:09
20 - Home Cooking III : I Got Rhythm - 2:27
