45rpm Review: Detroit Bop Quintet - Two Birds

Dwight Adams (trumpet); Pete Mills (alto); Rick Roe (piano); Paul Keller (bass); Nate Winn (drums).

(Review by Lance).

Back in 1947, on December 21, the Charlie Parker Quintet went into the United Sound Systems in Detroit and recorded four tracks: Another Hair-do; Bluebird; Klaunstance & Bird Gets the Worm.

The quintet was in Detroit backing Sarah Vaughan at a local nightclub and, with a recording strike imminent, Savoy got the band into the nearest studio to beat the deadline. The tracks recorded that day by Bird, Miles, Duke Jordan Tommy Potter and Max Roach, in years to come, became legendary.

Another Hair-do and Bluebird were released as a single 78rpm on Savoy 961.

Jump forward 70 years during which time United Sound Systems had recorded many more famous names - John Lee Hooker, Jackie Wilson, Bob Seeger, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin and Red Hot Chilli Peppers to mention but some.

They also recorded the Detroit Bop Quintet who recreated Savoy 961 - this time on a two-sided 45rpm disc (although my review copy is actually in CD format).
I'm unsure why! Don't get me wrong. Five very good musicians totally versed in the idiom who pay as a good a tribute to the masters as anyone could.
A tribute that actually does stand up well alongside the originals and, who knows? If I'd heard the Detroit Bop Quintet first...
Also, in this day and age, two tracks are hardly going to excite you like they would in 1947 before the advent of the LP. Perhaps if they'd recorded all four tracks from the session it may have been more appealing.
Having said all that, they're still two excellent sides.
Lance
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