1946 Lover Man: A harrowing, disturbing listen. A disc which Charlie said should never be released, recorded just before his mental and physical breakdown. The halting, eerie, haunting track has a stark beauty where Bird is guided through the tune by trumpeter Howard McGhee and Jimmy Bunn at the piano.
1949 Segment: The day before flying out to Europe for
the Paris Jazz Festival, Bird recorded a not-well-known session with Kenny
Dorham, Al Haig, Tommy Potter and Max Roach. He’s on great form, ideas bursting
out with originality, excitement, anticipation and verve. A tricky composition
not played again on any known ‘on-location’ session.
1950 Ornithology: Truly a never-before-or-since
aggregation - a super group from the bop era. Bird, Fats Navarro, Bud Powell,
Curly Russell and Art Blakey. What a contest – probably won by Bud on the night…
1952 Turnstile/Rocker: Ever trying new ideas, Charlie was
enthusiastic about Gerry Mulligan’s compositions. He played both these pieces
on a free-wheeling session at the Rockland Palace where he used
both his bands - the Quintet and the Strings - to great effect. Gerry also
penned the Strings Theme - a delightful jazz waltz Bird used
at the beginning and end of most ‘With Strings’ sets.
1953 I Can’t Get Started: Accompanied beautifully by Kenny
Clarke, Ray Brown and John Lewis, this is a gentle, pensive, beguiling,
pleading Bird performance where it sounds as though he was trying to
communicate with Chan Richardson - his partner at the time - with whom he had a
turbulent relationship. An absolutely inspiring bass line from Ray propels the
piece at just the right tempo.
1953 Perdido: From the
famous Massey Hall concert with Diz, Bud, Max and Mingus. First time I heard
this aged 17 I was hooked and still am! Such tone - even with the plastic alto
- such authority, such command of the situation. Bud’s supportive comping,
Max’s swing, Diz’s clowning and Mingus’s strong rhythmical drive complete the
picture.
1953 I Remember You: This comes from a blistering
quartet session with Al Haig, Max, and Percy Heath on bass. A majestic solo
follows the piercing theme showing some of Charlie’s frustration pouring out.
Bird’s sound is strong, angry but fully controlled in a masterpiece performance
thrown together at the session itself.
1981 To Bird With Love: A giant compendium of photos and text
presented by Frenchman Francis Paudras from Chan Richardson’s archives of Bird
material - family snaps, contracts letters, drawings, documents etc showing how
life was with unpredictable Charlie
(Paudras later ‘rescued’ Bud Powell for a time providing him with
accommodation and a home-life in Paris later in his life).
Bird Flight: A radio programme broadcast daily by
Parker authority Phil Schaap from station WKCR FM New York who over months and
years has presented and discussed every single note played by Charlie in his
life captured on disc or tape. The most thorough analysis ever made
and still available online.
Dave B.
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