Audio CD review:
Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie - Bird & Diz

Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie - Bird & Diz

Band: Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie Title: Bird & Diz Rating: Release Date: 25 October, 1990 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Bloomdido 2: Oscar for Treadwell [Alternate Take] 3: Oscar for Treadwell 4: Mohawk [Alternate Take] 5: Mohawk 6: My Melancholy Baby [Alternate Take][#] 7: My Melancholy Baby 8: Leap Frog [Alternate Take][#] 9: Leap Frog [Alternate Take] 10: Leap Frog [Alternate Take][#] 11: Leap Frog 12: Relaxin' with Lee [Alternate Take] 13: Relaxin' with Lee

Customer Reviews Bird, Diz, Monk, Curly, and WHO?! Rich's jejune drumming, consisting of one inconsequential rim shot after another, and Cozy Cole imitations in his solo breaks, really drags down the proceedings. This could have been a truly significant recording of three of the great modernists, Bird, Dizzy and Monk, if Norman Granz had been in his right mind and included Max Roach or Roy Haynes on drums, instead of Buddy Rich. It's as if a funereal pall had been cast over what should have been a joyful reunion. Having said this, there are nevertheless some high points on the CD. "Bloomdido" and "Mohawk" are wonderful pieces, and they were original to the session. Each member of the "holy trinity" plays well. But especially startling is the presence of Monk, who never recorded with Bird (except for an excerpt preserved by Dean Benedetti) or Dizzy. His solos are true gems, and he manages to disengage from Rich in his own special way, by playing around, under, and through the sub-standard rhythmic accompaniment (Bud Powell escaped Rich on "Tea for Two" on Verve, now Polygram, by outpacing him). What is also captivating about the session is hearing Monk back up Gillespie. Gillespie is truly challenged by Monk's harmonic ideas and comes up with some remarkable angular lines; the two revolve in an other-worldly orbit that is musically fascinating. So, all told, even with Rich's drag on the proceedings, I give this set five stars. It's the only time you'll hear these three play together. I once imagined that, as with the Clint Eastwood techniques used for the movie "Bird," one could digitize Rich's drumming OUT of the recording, but I don't think that would solve the problem. Bird, Dizzy and Monk were trying to compensate for the sluggish back-up, so it just wouldn't have that lively bop syncopation even if you digitized IN a drummer who understood the genre. On the other hand, wouldn't it be interesting to ask Max to give it a shot, though not a rim shot?!. Good (depending on your needs) It's nice to hear Buddy hang back for a change, although his occasional solo breaks are the usual blistering affair. A strong set by Bird & Diz, but the real reason to buy this CD (versus better ones by either of these artists) is that Buddy Rich is the featured drummer. Not for the manic depressive. . You can see a complete list of all Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie discography, or go back to the Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie tabs