Charlie Parker Memorial 1 by Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker Memorial 1

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Charlie Parker Memorial 1

Features

Audio CD (March 15, 1993)

Number of Discs: 1

Label: Savoy Jazz

Catalog Number: 101

Reader Reviews
What a great album, filled with a bunch of classic tunes composed by Charlie Parker. Not only are the songs great, but the solos are mind-blowing. Charlie Parker's alto saxophone solos are pure genius, and that's all that needs to be said. Miles Davis appears on here, in his younger years, but still puts in some fascinating solos. Duke Jordan, John Lewis, and Bud Powell all play piano on this record. From the speedy tracks such as "Another Hair Do" and "Constellation", which are both rapid themes played extremely well, to the slow, bluesy melodies of "Parker's Mood", which is a completely improvised solo by Charlie Parker with piano accompaniment done by Bud Powell, to the fun instant hit single "Barbados", which features a great theme and piano loop (one of my favorites on here). Then there is "Bluebird", the nice somewhat laid-back track, which is Parker in classic form. But Bird's best work comes on "Ah-Lu-Cha", his instant classic composition, featuring some of Parker's best solo work and Miles Davis also putting in a very nice solo, and the happy "Marmaduke", which is a crazy song that jams all the way through, as is the track "Perhaps", which starts out with a piano introduction and then speeds into a typically insane Parker piece, but it works out quite well, and Davis and Bud Powell both put in great solos, plus there is the funky but complicated "Steeplechase" and the light-speed traveling "Merry Go Around" which goes so fast it makes your head spin! The final track is the MORE laid-back "Buzzy", but even that track has lots of flare and excitement. Also, if you like hearing the music as it was recorded in the studio, you'll love this. This is because the album is full of incomplete versions of the songs that were recorded, and you hear finally the complete versions, which are flawless. Some songs were done perfectly their first take though. This is a must for any jazz fan, especially if you're into the bebop jazz era, which was definitely a great one, and like the hard sound of bebop. Charlie Parker ruled the 1940's decade for jazz, and his music lives on. Since you're here reading this, go get the album!

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