Birdsong

Performer: Charlie Parker
Producer: Orrin Keepnews (Compilation)
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Charlie Parker (alto saxophone); Miles Davis (trumpet); Duke Jordan (piano); Tommy Potter (bass instrument); Max Roach (drum). Birdsong is a solid single-disc collection of the legendary bebop tracks recorded by alto saxophonist Charlie Parker and a very young Miles Davis on trumpet. Competing well with previous compilations, this Savoy-produced package focuses on Parker's compositions, including such classics as "Parker's Mood," "Koko," and "Ornithology." Also elevating the overall presentation here are detailed liner notes by producer Orrin Keepnews. While this material is readily available, jazz neophytes looking for a solid overview of both Parker and Davis' work should find this a terrific introduction. ~ Matt Collar

Charlie Parker's combination of sheer genius and pure emotion on the saxophone has few rivals, and after him, nothing would be the same. As one of the creators of bebop in the 1940s and 1950s (alongside Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, and others), Parker, aka Bird, introduced a new level of expression to jazz, one that combined stunning technique, profound musical knowledge, and, above all, the ability to make complex ideas sound simple, soulful, and inevitable. Dead at just 34, Parker left behind a legacy that many have tried to equal, but none has surpassed.

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