Diz N Bird: The Beginning

Charlie (Bird) Parker (sax) and Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet)....together....WOW...and if that isn't all check out some of the others who are playing:Disc 1: Buddy Rich (drums), Thelonious Monk (piano), Max Roach (drums), Kenny Dorham (trumpet) and others;Disc 2: Charles Mingus (bass) Bud Powell (piano), Max Roach (drums)Disc 3: Bill Graham (sax), and more (lots!)....Fantastic...a pleasure to listen to.

This is hardly a typical recording, but I have to say that this is my favorite jazz album ever recorded. It's the only recording to have Thelonious Monk playing together with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, which in itself is pretty amazing. Although their styles are so distinct, they do play quite well together. Hearing them playing together is almost surreal.It's hard for me to describe how and why I like this album. I think the main reason that I like it is that it's so strange and so normal at the same time. The tunes exemplify this...two catchy blues (Bloomdido and Mohawk), a laid-back song to the same chord changes as "Stompin at the Savoy" (Relaxin' with Lee), a slowish and rather bizarre rhythm-changes tune (An Oscar for Treadwell), leap frog which is just ridiculously fast, and rather cheerful...and then...my melancholy baby.And of course...bizarre stuff happens to the harmonies and rhythms when you put these musicians together. One moment it sounds so old-fashioned, the next moment totally modern. I love it all the way!You get two takes of each most songs, four of leap frog, and some outtakes for kicks.This is not the CD to buy as your "introduction to jazz" or for someone whose tastes you are uncertain of. But if you *really love* jazz, this is a MUST-BUY.

First the facts. This is a recording after brief stints apart, of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, in June of 1950. A reunion if you will, of two great invoators, arguably creators, of the bop sensation. It is the last significant studio recording of the two, after their ground breaking sessions with the Savoy and Dial. They are accompanied for the one and only time with Thelonius Monk (strange isn't it), on piano of course, Buddy Rich on drums, and Curley Russell. There are essentially six recordings, with several retakes, false starts etc. of the songs. As far as sound quality goes, you will not do better for this time frame. Some have complained about the addition of the false starts etc. of songs; nonsense! They are rare glimpses of the creative processes that went into the recording of these milestones. What would such people advocate? Less music?!? The more the better. If they present a problem, use your skip remote for goodness sakes. Now for the plug! I cannot emphasize this enough: these recordings are the high water mark of the early bop era, equaled but rarely surpassed. They are absolutely essential to anyone who is a fan of Diz and Bird. They help define, elaborate, ground, establish the well deserved reputation of these two giants and their contribution to music. Yes, one can argue that the Savoy and Dial sessions are more polished, innovative etc., but that is all besides the point. If you are reading this review, you are not the casual music or jazz fan. You simply cannot go wrong with this album and I guarantee you that it will be on your playlist for years. If you are a newcomer, buy the disc and use it as an inspiration and launching pad to further Diz and Byrd. Enjoy!

This recording may be called Bird & Diz but it is so much more than that... as if that was not enough! It couples one of the greatest jazz drummers of all times, Buddy Rich, and given his ultimate big band drummer chops, the difference in the way he plays the drums is quite evident. The fact that Thelonious Monk plays on this date as well simply puts the entire recording over the top. And you gotta love the recognition of one of the most memorable jazz radio personalities to ever grace the airwaves, Oscar Treadwell, in the Bird original, An Oscar for Treadwell. Hearing the drums on Bloomdido at one point made me research the source of the song and there is plenty more where that came from on this recording. Bird, Diz, Monk and Rich - what a combo! Curly Russell on bass is not to be underestimated either. Definitely a recording to have in your collection.

Excellent albums (all three). Another Jazz album where all the songs are good.

Very good recording of Two of the Best!

For the age of the recording, the sound quality is extremely good (as you can listen to here). The CD runs about 45 minutes, but only the first six songs are the complete studio recording as it was meant to be heard. On song seven (as you can see), you begin to hear different variations of the first six songs. Songs seven through thirteen are complete, and then the remainder are just second-long blips -- false starts, some conversation (which can be interesting), and various beginnings that they experimented with. The longest of these is about 50 seconds, and many are only 12 to 14 seconds -- the majority of the CD is, of course, the first 13 complete songs. So, the CD has a very complete feeling from the start, yes, but be aware how it trails off. You buy the CD for the first six songs and the next variations on those songs, though. You won't be disappointed.

things are good.

This excellent session led by the great alto saxophonist Charlie Parker(1920-55) was recorded in New York City on June 6, 1950 with Dizzy Gillespie(trumpet); Thelonious Monk(piano); Curly Russell(bass) & Buddy Rich(drums).The first six tracks include five Parker compositions plus one standard and were originally issued in 1952 as a 10" LP on Norman Granz's CLEF label.The remaining 18 tracks are a mixture of alternative takes, breakdowns, false starts and studio chatterParker & Gillespie are in fine form and it was the only time that the unique pianist, Thelonious Monk, had recorded with Parker. Swing drummer, Buddy Rich, has been criticised by some as an encumbrance on this session but, to my ears, he acquits himself pretty well.'Bird and Diz' contains some exhilarating and brilliant bop and this well-recorded CD is a fascinating snapshot of modern jazz in 1950.Btw ~ This review refers to the single CD 'Bird and Diz'(VERVE MASTER EDITION 521 436-2).Many of the other reviews here are for a 3-CD set on NOT NOW MUSIC(NOT3CD187) with the same title and a similar cover.

This 3 CD set is a bit of a mixed bag. The first disc includes the "controversial " sessions with Buddy Rich on drums which still comes in for a lot of criticism. Personally, I love these sessions and if Rich never really managed to understand be-bop, the drive of his playing is far from disadvantageous. Dizzy Gillespie is equal to Bird on this session and the inclusion of Thelonious Monk on piano serves to add to the exotic line up. I think this is a classic but the second disc of the Massey Hall concert is absolutely essential, despite Charlie Mingus over-dubbing his bass parts which were originally inaudible on the original recording. The combination of Charlie Parker with Bud Powell is a match made in heaven and the extended playing time of each tune which allows all three soloists to stretch out ensures that this is one of the very best live recordings in the history of jazz. It is a bit of a shame that the third disc is a bit of dud - I love Dizzy Gillespie's playing but these live recordings have too much larking around on and despite favourites like "Tin Tin Deo" being included in the set, it would have been better to have incorporated some of the original Savoy recordings instead. For the budget price, this is a steal - the second disc is worth the price alone. A few recordings with the sophomore Kenny Dorham fill out disc one but they only hint at the brilliance of the trumpeter that would manifest itself on Blue Note within the next 10-15 years. The liner notes assist with personal but offer no insight.

A 3 disc set. The first two are well-known classics. The third a mish-mash of concert recordings. A ggod buy if prospective purchasers only need those first two albums but there are better Parker bargains.

The two first CDs in this three CD set are good but the third one has unbearable sound quality. As for the presentation, I like the cover, but the liner notes are skeletal. Bird and Diz deserves better than this!

Solid old school jazz