Archie Shepp & Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen - Looking At Bird (1980)

Tracklist

01 - Moose The Mooche
02 - Embraceable You
03 - Ornithology
04 - Billie's Bounce
05 - Yardbird Suite
06 - Blues For Alice
07 - How Deep Is The Ocean
08 - Confirmation

Personnel:

Archie Shepp - soprano & tenor saxophones
Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen - bass

Avant-garde tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp created a stir in 1977 when he recorded a set of hymns and folk melodies in melodic duets with pianist Horace Parlan. On February 6, 1980, he reunited with Parlan for a set of blues associated with Bessie Smith, and the following day, as a sort of sequel, Shepp played eight songs associated with Charlie Parker in collaboration with bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen. Although never a bebopper, Shepp does surprisingly well on such tunes as "Moose the Mooche," "Ornithology," "Yardbird Suite" and "Confirmation," even if he makes the mistake of doubling on his erratic soprano during a few numbers. Archie Shepp pays tribute to Bird not by copying him, but by being creative and playing Parker's repertoire in his own sound. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow