Charlie Parker - The Magnificent Charlie Parker (1955) [2021]

This album was originally released in the mid-50s on the Clef album and it contains much of Clef’s Parker singles from 1951 when Bird was playing at his best. It’s a wonderful collection of singles all arranged in logical succession with no weird volume or sound quality leaps as you go track to track. Those who are familiar with some Parker CD collections will know what I mean by incongruent track succession.

Side one opens with four tracks that feature a young Miles on trumpet, as well as Max Roach on drums. Miles’ playing at that time was very clean and precise, revealing the influence of Clifford Brown, as well as Miles’ classical background. All of these tracks are great, with “She Rote” being the ultimate in bebop styled abstraction and modernity. The last two cuts on this side are exotica pop numbers with a vocal choir and small orchestra arrangement. by Gil Evans. Side two features Red Rodney on trumpet, possibly Parker’s most cohesive and inspiring sideman outside of Dizzy Gillespie. This group also features a young John Lewis on piano before he became known as a purveyor of 3rd stream chamber jazz.

Tracks:

1 Au Privave [take 3 (master)] (Parker) 2:46
2 She Rote (Parker) 3:09
3 K.C. Blues (Parker) 3:28
4 Star Eyes (Raye, DePaul) 3:35
5 In The Still Of The Night [take 7 (master)] (Porter) 3:26
6 Old Folks [take 9 (master)] (Hill, Robison) 3:37
7 Blues For Alice (Parker) 2:48
8 Si Si (Parker) 2:42
9 Swedish Schnapps (Shavers) 3:13
10 Back Home Blues [take 2 (alt. take)] (Parker) 2:49
11 Lover Man (Ramirez, Davis, Sherman) 3:26
12 Why Do I Love You ? (Kern, Hammerstein II) 3:07

Personnel:

[# 1-4 & 12*]
Charlie Parker - as
Miles Davis - tp
Walter Bishop Jr. - p
Teddy Kotick - b
Ralph (Luis ?) Miranda* - cng
Max Roach - dr
Roy Haynes* - dr
Recorded in New York City ; January 17, 1951 ; & probably Mercury Studio, New York City ; March 21, 1951*
[# 5 & 6]
Charlie Parker - as
Junior Collins - fr hrn
Hal McKusick - cl
Tommy Mace - ob
Al Block - fl
Mannie Thaler - bssn
Tony Aless - p
Charlie Mingus - b
Max Roach - dr
Dave Lambert Singers mixed chorus
Gil Evans - arr.
Recorded at Fulton Recording, New York City ; May 25, 1953
[# 7-11]
Charlie Parker - as
Red Rodney - tp
John Lewis - p
Ray Brown - b
Kenny Clarke - dr
Recorded possibly at RCA 24th Street Studios, New York City ; August 8, 1951