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This is the best way to enjoy Charlie Parker's work. The essential Charlie parker is a time tested classic that examines different elements of his music. Notice the stong reliance on fluteing the cresendo notes. Bird was imcomperable unless you look at Miles Davis' body and volume of work.
Many things have been written about Charlie's music, so I only want to make one point: the man's sense of timing was supernatural. There are plenty of very tight jazz musicians out there--tightness is a sine qua non of the genre--but he's so ON, I can imagine my own timing getting better just from listening to him.
I was disappointed. I should have listened to the not so positive reviews already on Amazon. There is too much embellished sappy orchestration on this CD and not enough essential Charlie Parker.
I'm not saying 'The Essential Charlie Parker' is bad at all. But there are box sets, regular compilations, you name it.My advice is buy the single disc 'Ken Burns JAZZ: Charlie Parker.' That spans 1941-1952, his entire career basically, and includes all of his classics.And, most of the songs here are on that one as well. 'Bloomdido,' featuring the legendary drummer Buddy Rich and Gillespie both, is here, as is 'Relaxing With Lee' and arguably his biggest hit, 'Now's The Time.' However, the one song that should be here but not is 'Scrapple from the Apple.' How could you have the essentials and not put that classic on. But, I can't give this five stars. It's not right.But, overall, if you want a good intro to Charlie Parker's music, than definitely this is worth checking out. Why, you may ask. It's actually superb, if I'm being honest. And that one adds some of his duets with Dizzy Gillespie (like 'Salt Peanuts) and his early years with Jay McShann.But this still has the basics.
Well, there are just so many better options. Now I realize that to many, this is the ideal Parker collection and this is the one that people buy. It's like having a peanut butter sandwich without jelly. But, if you want more bang for your buck, I suggest 'Ken Burns JAZZ Collection.'Recommended for the newcomer or casual Bird fan.
Charlie Parker symbolized as no other jazz musician, the existential crisis of a generation. He represented with all the horridness, the embodiment of the sorrow, although he was in the creative decade of the life as the thirties are for any artist.His emblematic talent and his remarkable gifts made of him a legend, and this album includes certainly part of this golden bequeath.
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