Charlie Parker - 'The Complete Savoy & Dial Master Takes'

Charlie Parker, or "Bird" as he was known to his friends and fans, was in a league of his own.  He didn't really play music, as much as he intuited it from somewhere else.  Bird woodshedded to get the chops, and he was a technical master of the alto sax, but what he played didn't come from long hours of practice.  In so many ways, he was his own influence, he was also the greatest soloist to ever walk this earth.

The first thing you'll notice about 'The Complete Savoy & Dial Master Takes' is how modern this music on these 3CDs sounds.  Even the guitarist and the occasional vocals (for the most part) sound modern.  These tracks may be eighty years plus old, but it isn't campy old-timey nostalgic music, and it isn't music you listen to, to learn something.  This is the stuff he was putting out in his heyday, that was on the shelves of jazz fans and played for entertainment.  Dial and Savoy made lots of money off it.  Bird was a commercial artist, not an obscure player supported by a boutique label, known only to a few insiders.  He was never paid anything close to what he deserved, not even in the Norman Granz days.  Bird left the studio with a wad of cash, which was quickly shot into a vein.  That's how he chose to live, and how he died...

Bird is the subject of many a scholarly analysis, and rightly so.  Nevertheless, this music was made for you to enjoy, as much as Bird enjoyed making it.

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Fats Navarro & Tadd Dameron - 'The Complete Blue Note And Capitol Recordings'

 

The Complete Blue Note and Capitol Recordings consists of 23 songs and 13 alternate takes, featuring the great trumpeter Fats Navarro in peak form with three groups headed by pianist/arranger Tadd Dameron, in trumpet battles with one of his major influences, Howard McGhee, and on a remarkable all-star quintet with pianist Bud Powell and the young tenor Sonny Rollins; among the other sidemen are altoist Ernie Henry; tenors Charlie Rouse, Allen Eager, Wardell Gray, and Dexter Gordon; and vibraphonist Milt Jackson.  In addition to such gems as "Our Delight," "Lady Bird," "Double Talk," "Bouncing With Bud," "Dance of the Infidels," and "52nd Street Theme," Fats is heard with the 1948 Benny Goodman septet ("Stealin' Apples") and Dameron leads a group with the 22-year-old Miles Davis. 

This double CD has more than its share of essential music that belongs in all jazz collections.

CD1

1. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'The Chase' (Alt. Take)
2. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'The Chase'
3. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'The Squirrel' (Alt. Take)
4. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'The Squirrel'
5. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'Our Delight' (Alt. Take)
6. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'Our Delight'
7. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro  - 'Dameronia' (Alt. Take)
8. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'Dameronia'
9. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'Jahbero' (Alt. Take)
10. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'Jahbero'
11. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - Lady Bird
12. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'Lady Bird' (Alt. Take)
13. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'Symphonette'
14. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'Symphonette' (Alt. Take)
15. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'I Think I'll Go Away'
16. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'Sid's Delight'
17. Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro - 'Casbah'
18. Tadd Dameron / Miles Davis - 'John's Delight'
19. Tadd Dameron / Miles Davis - 'What's New'
20. Tadd Dameron / Miles Davis - 'Heaven's Doors Are Wide Open'
21. Tadd Dameron / Miles Davis - 'Focus'

CD2

1. Howard McGhee-Fats Navarro Sextet - 'The Skunk' (LP Vers.)
2. Howard McGhee-Fats Navarro Sextet - 'Boperation'
3. Howard McGhee-Fats Navarro Sextet - 'Boperation' (Alt. Take)
4. Howard McGhee-Fats Navarro Sextet - 'The Skunk' (78 Vers.)
5. Howard McGhee-Fats Navarro Sextet - 'Double Talk'
6. Howard McGhee-Fats Navarro Sextet - 'Double Talk' (Alt. Take)
7. Bud Powell / Fats Navarro - 'Bouncing With Bud' (Alt. #1)
8. Bud Powell / Fats Navarro - 'Bouncing With Bud' (Alt. #2)
9. Bud Powell / Fats Navarro - 'Bouncing With Bud'
10. Bud Powell / Fats Navarro - 'Wail' (Alt. Take)
11. Bud Powell / Fats Navarro - Wail'
12. Bud Powell / Fats Navarro - 'Dance Of The Infidels' (Alt. Take)
13. Bud Powell / Fats Navarro - 'Dance Of The Infidels'
14. Bud Powell / Fats Navarro - '52nd Street Theme'
15. Benny Goodman / Fats Navarro - 'Stealin' Apples'

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