Search - Charlie Parker :: Complete Verve Master Takes

An inexpensive way to get Bird's Verve years

satisfraktion | 08/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those new to Charlie Parker, his output roughly can be summarized by two collections (not taking into account the rarer sessions of his early years or the recordings made under Dizzy Gillespie's name): the sides he recorded for the Dial and Savoy labels between 1944 and 1948, and the sides he recorded for Verve (Mercury/Norgran/Clef) from 1948 until his death. So you can get an excellent Bird retrospective by purchasing a "Savoy and Dial" box set and a "Verve" box set. Until this collection came along, many people bought the $150 "Complete Bird on Verve." It contains alternate takes, live recordings, and 5 or 6 tracks not under his leadership. I wouldn't recommend that set to anyone but ardent ornithologists. You probably don't want to listen to 11 takes of "Leap Frog." You'll have to decide if the live and "non-leader" tracks are worth the extra $100.



With this set, you get all the master takes of the studio recordings in a very handsome package. It comes in a tin case and a 70+ page booklet. It covers the bebop recordings he did with Gillespie and Thelonious Monk, with Miles Davis, with Kenny Dorham, and with Red Rodney, among others. Also here are the famous "Charlie Parker with Strings" sessions, latin-flavored sides, and the big band sessions (including some with the great Gil Evans).



Many people argue that the Verve years were too controlled by producer Norman Granz, who cultivated a kinder, gentler Bird, in comparison to the rawer, bluesier, more energetic classic bebop recordings on Savoy and Dial. While I also prefer those earlier sessions, I cannot find any fault with the Verve sides. Different? Yes. Inferior? No. C'mon, this is Bird we're talking about! These recordings are teeming with magic (take a listen to "Just Friends" for proof). This is a must-have for any self-respecting music fan.



To clarify comments made by a reviewer below, no songs are missing. This is a collection of studio recordings under Charlie Parker's name. "Repetition" is credited to the Neal Hefti Orchestra, the four latin sides mentioned are by Machito and His Orchestra, and the Hawkins track was recorded under no one's name in particular. I agree: it would have been nice to have included those on a fourth CD, but I think Verve was trying to make this a more affordable 3CD set.



By the way, if you want a Savoy and Dial Masters box set, two good sets are out there: the $50 Savoy-released set (search on Amazon) or the less handsome, but cheaper (and slightly better sounding) "Studio Chronicle 1940-1948" by JSP. This latter one has the additional benefit of including early sides with Jay McShann, those under Gillespie's name, and all but two of those mentioned as missing by the reviewer below (the two recorded after 1948). Highly recommended!"

Almost Complete Verve Master Takes

satisfraktion | 11/10/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Don't get me wrong -- the music is fantastic and the sound is terrific. I am happy to have purchased it in this form. BUT, this assuredly is NOT the complete studio master takes of Parker's Verve/Clef material:Missing are:
(1) Repetition, from the same day as "The Bird"
(2) A few Latin-flavored sides from late 1948 and early 1949: No Noise; Mango Mangue; Okiedoke
(3) Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite
(4) Two songs from a 1950 session with Coleman Hawkins -- Celebrity (Celerity) and Ballade.Items (2) and (4) are on Parker's "South of the Border: Verve Latin Jazz Sides".I guess they must have REALLY wanted to squeeze it on three CDs."

Essential

satisfraktion | 01/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The remastering on this set is outstanding.Bird was know for such things as his dexterity, speed, expanding the blues, etc. But with the great sound of these cds, you can hear Charlie Parker's beautiful tone with combos, strings, etc.The acoustic bass which is driving the rhythm can be felt and so can the "bombs" from the drummers. Desert island disc-when you can sing along with these solos you begin to appreciate this great artist."