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Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie - Bird & Diz Audio CD

A fair review of the Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie "Bird & Diz" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie reviews here, or go back to the Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie tabs.

Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie Band: Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie
Title: Bird & Diz
Rating:
Release Date: 1997-07-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Bloomdido 2: My Melancholy Baby 3: Relaxin' with Lee 4: Leap Frog 5: Oscar for Treadwell 6: Mohawk 7: My Melancholy Baby [Complete Take] 8: Relaxin' with Lee [Complete Take] 9: Leap Frog [Complete Take] 10: Leap Frog [Complete Take] 11: Leap Frog [Complete Take] 12: Oscar for Treadwell [Complete Take] 13: Mohawk [Complete Take] 14: Relaxin' with Lee [Breakdown Take] 15: Relaxin' with Lee [Breakdown Take] 16: Relaxin' with Lee [False Start] 17: Relaxin' with Lee [Breakdown Take] 18: Leap Frog [Breakdown Take] 19: Leap Frog [Breakdown Take] 20: Leap Frog [Breakdown Take] 21: Leap Frog [Breakdown Take] 22: Leap Frog [Breakdown Take] 23: Leap Frog [Breakdown Take] 24: Leap Frog [Breakdown Take]

Indispensable Classic
This is a recording after brief stints apart, of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, in June of 1950. First the facts. A reunion if you will, of two great invoators, arguably creators, of the bop sensation. It is the last significant studio recording of the two, after their ground breaking sessions with the Savoy and Dial. They are accompanied for the one and only time with Thelonius Monk (strange isn't it). on piano of course, Buddy Rich on drums, and Curley Russell. There are essentially six recordings, with several retakes, false starts etc. of the songs.
As far as sound quality goes, you will not do better for this time frame. Some have complained about the addition of the false starts etc. of songs; nonsense! They are rare glimpses of the creative processes that went into the recording of these milestones. What would such people advocate? Less music?!? The more the better. If they present a problem, use your skip remote for goodness sakes.
Now for the plug! I cannot emphasize this enough: these recordings are the high water mark of the early bop era, equaled but rarely surpassed. They are absolutely essential to anyone who is a fan of Diz and Bird. They help define, elaborate, ground, establish the well desreved reputation of these two giants and their contribution to music. Yes, one can argue that the Savoy and Dial sessions are more polished, innovative etc. , but that is all besides the point. If you are reading this review, you are not the casual music or jazz fan. You simply cannot go wrong with this album and I guarantee you that it will be on your playlist for years. If you are a newcomer, by the disc and use it as an inspiration and launching pad to further Diz and Byrd. Enjoy!.


Amazing and unique recording: my favorite jazz album, but maybe not yours!
It's the only recording to have Thelonious Monk playing together with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, which in itself is pretty amazing. This is hardly a typical recording, but I have to say that this is my favorite jazz album ever recorded. Although their styles are so distinct, they do play quite well together. Hearing them playing together is almost surreal.

It's hard for me to describe how and why I like this album. I think the main reason that I like it is that it's so strange and so normal at the same time. The tunes exemplify this. . . two catchy blues (Bloomdido and Mohawk), a laid-back song to the same chord changes as "Stompin at the Savoy" (Relaxin' with Lee), a slowish and rather bizarre rhythm-changes tune (An Oscar for Treadwell), leap frog which is just ridiculously fast, and rather cheerful. . . and then. . . my melancholy baby.

And of course. . . bizarre stuff happens to the harmonies and rhythms when you put these musicians together. One moment it sounds so old-fashioned, the next moment totally modern. I love it all the way!

You get two takes of each most songs, four of leap frog, and some outtakes for kicks.

This is not the CD to buy as your "introduction to jazz" or for someone whose tastes you are uncertain of. But if you *really love* jazz, this is a MUST-BUY.


Two giants
Buy it. Most folks looking at this CD for purchase are going to know what they are in for. It is a classic. Incredible playing from two of the giants of Bebop. It's also amazing to hear Charlie begin solo after jaw dropping solo on the extra tracks of Leap Frog and Relaxin' with Lee. Heads up: the said "studio conversations" on the extra tracks are difficult to make out and scant few. The soloists demonstrate a seemingly endless stream of creativity and drummer, Buddy Rich sparks a unique drive in the ensemble. .


great music but the same songs over and over
This one is, but there are only six different songs on it, and then out-takes and variations of those same songs. You would think that any album that has Bird, Diz, Monk, and Buddy Rich would be fantastic to listen to. So in that sense, it was a bit disappointing. If all of the songs were different, then this would get five stars instead of three.


Be Careful You Know What You Are Getting
There are 24 tracks on this CD, but there are really only six pieces. The music is good (as you would expect), however be very careful. Tracks 7-24 are alternate recordings and outtakes of the first six. If this is what you want, fine. But if you are expecting a CD with 24 different songs, this isn't it.


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. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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