Charlie Parker - The Essential Charlie Parker

Import exclusive two disc compilation. Details TBA. Metro. 2004. Album Description

It's The Bird, but there are better compilations out there

I'm not saying 'The Essential Charlie Parker' is bad at all. It's actually superb, if I'm being honest. But, I can't give this five stars. Why, you may ask?

Well, there are just so many better options. Now I realize that to many, this is the ideal Parker collection and this is the one that people buy. But there are box sets, regular compilations, you name it.

My advice is buy the single disc 'Ken Burns JAZZ: Charlie Parker.' That spans 1941-1952, his entire career basically, and includes all of his classics.

And, most of the songs here are on that one as well. And that one adds some of his duets with Dizzy Gillespie (like 'Salt Peanuts) and his early years with Jay McShann.

But this still has the basics. 'Bloomdido,' featuring the legendary drummer Buddy Rich and Gillespie both, is here, as is 'Relaxing With Lee' and arguably his biggest hit, 'Now's The Time.'

However, the one song that should be here but not is 'Scrapple from the Apple.' How could you have the essentials and not put that classic on? It's like having a peanut butter sandwich without jelly. It's not right.

But, overall, if you want a good intro to Charlie Parker's music, than definitely this is worth checking out. But, if you want more bang for your buck, I suggest 'Ken Burns JAZZ Collection.'

Recommended for the newcomer or casual Bird fan. June 5, 2008

The echo of a scream!

Charlie Parker symbolized as no other jazz musician, the existential crisis of a generation. He represented with all the horridness, the embodiment of the sorrow, although he was in the creative decade of the life as the thirties are for any artist.

His emblematic talent and his remarkable gifts made of him a legend, and this album includes certainly part of this golden bequeath.
December 24, 2007

Very poor recording

I have been very impressed with most remastered CD's taken from performances going back to the 50's. Some of this mastering work is nearly miraculous ("Getz and Hamp" being one shining example). Unfortunately this CD is largely unrestored. It has minimal noise but it also has minimal dynamic range and is quite flat. I admittedly spoiled but I can't get through to the music if I can't hear it propertly. That's a shame because there is some good music here. August 23, 2007

There are better "starter" collections of Charlier Parker; this is not "the" essential Charlie Parker

OK, the music, of course, rates 10 stars, for there is some great music here. But Polygram has labeled this "the" essential Charlie Parker, when it really isn't. This is music from the various record companies that Charlie Parker recorded for in the late 40's and early 50's under the producer Norman Granz, generally known as the Verve group of companies, eventually bought up by Polygram. Since it only contains Verve product it isn't really a representative sample of Charlie Parker's recordings.

A much better value for your money (if you want only one purchase of Charlie Parker material) is the box set by Proper Records called "Boss Bird." It's ASIN number B000069DWX (just paste this ASIN number in the search bar to find it). This is a 4 CD set, and you can usually find great used copies here at Amazon for around 15 dollars.

It contains four full CD's of music from throughout Bird's career: early recordings, the essential recordings for Savoy and Dial with Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis that made him famous, and a nice sample of the later Verve years. It's a terrific set, and well worth owning.

If you really want to keep your purchase down to less than 4 CD's, try the one-disc compilation that was part of the "Ken Burns Jazz" series. It's just a single CD, contains the great recordings from throughout Bird's career. Even cheaper is the Charlie Parker CD from the Ken Burns Jazz Collection, which his ASIN number B000050I3S; you can usually buy copies under 5 bucks here at Amazon.

As for this particular CD that I am reviewing here: there is some fine stuff, but they are being too tricky with the title, since it's just a slice of Parker's career. If you do want a "best of" album of the Verve years there is a two-CD sampler floating around Amazon that is a better deal. October 15, 2006

Essential

As the title says, this is a great selection of the finest Charlie parker themes. A perfect introduction to anyone who wants to dig in Bird's music. Include classics like: Confirmation, KC Blues and Now's the time. The CD cover art is brilliant too, don't you think? August 20, 2005

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