In A Soulful Mood

Great value collection of swinging jazz and some slower numbers. Excellent sound quality for the 1940s - you'd think it was a 60s recording. Informative notes too. Several tracks include a very young Miles Davis and Max Roach. Parker was one of Miles Davis' jazz heroes. Like so many musical genius Bird died too young - from drugs - aged just 34. Highlights for me: Yardbird suite/Ornithology/ Loverman/Gypsy/Birds Nest/Cool Blues/Relaxin'../All the Things You Are/Bird of Paradise/My Old Flame/Out of Nowhere.

To fully appreciate this recording, one of the best low-priced outings there are with Charlie Parker the saxophonist at his peak, you need to listen closely. Small combos were where Charlie shined the most. Some of the songs are very well-known American Songbook tunes and they get interesting treatment. Overall, for an average listener, the CD is a bit too long, but students of the instrument and jazz fanatics will probably find it indispensable even after many listens. Overall, a good sample of the art of Parker, one of the geniuses that died much too soon.

I wanted a CD of Birds best known tunes at a reasonable price and this hit the spot

Great album - with very clear track notes. You get details of when and where he was for each track and what was going on for him.

All the Parker you need.

Usual brilliant service by Music Magpie and great price for a great CD

it was not the intended cd but ok

One critic said that Bird not only changed jazz forever but all kinds of music. I don't know if the sitar pluckers up the Ganges were influenced by him but certainly all western music has been in one way or another.Whenever I hear Charlie's spontaneous, amazingly creative improvisations I can't help thinking of the European classical composers hunched over their pianos laboriously hammering out another lump of hackneyed, lifeless waffle. Music desperately needed jazz to breathe life back into it and, as soon as a few cultivated ears were ready, for Charlie Parker to liberate it to the highest level imaginable.Charlie said he wanted to make pure beautiful music the people could enjoy - and he certainly did that. The more you listen the more you hear in it - like all great art it reveals itself to you gradually over time. Unbelievably, it is possible to pick this superb CD up for a penny! Mine cost a massive 4 pence!The all round musicianship here is top notch but I was particularly struck by Arvin Garrison's excellent guitar playing. An album to be cherished.