What? I have restraint? Since when?

10 discs of goodness

I was recently in Toronto and of course I squeezed in a bit of time browsing used books and music.

What did I see on the shelf before me but that glorious black box of music: Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve. I remember this box set from early in my jazz life. I’d borrow it from the local library and listen to it over and over, marveling at Charlie’s skill, and broken-hearted about how young he died. I always wanted to own the set but it tended to be about a $100 used, which was too rich for me back then.

Now I’m supposedly an adult with a good job and am not entirely drowning in debt and there I stood before Bird. There is was, still valued at $100 after all these years. This is some of the best recording he ever made and an important part of jazz history. Surely he’s one of the top two or three sax players of all time and I challenge anyone to argue otherwise.

I wish I had seen him play

The strange thing was that I didn’t buy it. What? I know, I can't believe it either. It’s not like me to show restraint when it comes to books or jazz, but it happened.

The reason? Streaming.

The whole set is available on iTunes and I listen to it all the time. I used to cherish CDs and now…not so much. I know this trend is happening everywhere and is even having an impact on the glorious company Mosaic Records. I have a large stack of their sets but haven’t jumped at one since Mingus’ set: Charles Mingus ‎– The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964–65.

I suppose the moral of this story is that it’s all about the music, not about how it’s delivered to my ears, brain and heart. Whatever sci-fi technology that comes along to replace streaming, you can rest assured that there will be jazz fans like me listening to fantastic old recordings in new ways.

For now, here's a link to one of Bird's great tunes, Blues For Alice.

Salt Peanuts, Salt Peanuts

At this time we would like to play a tune - it was composed by my worthy constituent, Mr. Dizzy Gillespie, in the year of 1942 - we sincerely hope you do enjoy, Salt Peanuts.
(introduction by Charles Mingus)
 

That day in Toronto, May 15, 1953, when an all-star line-up recorded  one of the great live albums in jazz: Jazz at Massey Hall; an album released by Charles Mingus and Max Roach  on their Debut label.

Though the audio quality is far from perfect, the lineup is incredible. I wonder if you could come up with five greater players; each one was so famous, that they have become jazz icons. Such a discussion: the best quintet's imaginable! It would be a delightful conversation for us to have over coffee. Or perhaps wine if you are free one evening. I had a chianti last night that was out of this world. You'd prefer Scotch? Not a problem. I have a lovely 15-year-old. But for now let's focus on the band that blew the roof off of a half-empty Massey Hall on the same night Rocky Marciano knocked out Jersy Joe Walcott:

Charlie Parker: alto saxophone
Dizzy Gillespie: trumpet
Bud Powell: piano
Charles Mingus: bass
Max Roach: drums



suddenly in walked Bud, and then they got into something

From Max Roach's opening were he plays the melodic line on the drums before being joined by the rest of the band, you know this is going to be a killer track. First you are startled by Charlie Parker's solo, he sounds electrified and Dizzy shouting 'Salt peanuts! Salt peanuts!' to the  hall (where I have seen so many great shows) only adds to the intensity and you think "Who can top Bird?" Then Dizzy starts to blow and he matches Parker's skill, energy and ingenuity. Then comes Bud Powell, who had recently been released from a mental hospital and was in such rough shape that he had to be helped to the piano, and I challenge you to find Powell play any better. If you were to say that Powell, on that night at least, got the better of his bebop colleagues, I would have a difficult time arguing against you.

I listened to that song earlier, as I was enjoying this unseasonably warm autumn day, and I know I will be listening to it again in a few hours once I finish my afternoon appointments.

Until soon, my friend, when we shall discuss important issues like life and the greatest quintet.

Dinner Music

cheesy photo of Bird

I am making risotto, my wife is exercising and babies are in bed. What shall we listen to while I fry onions in olive oil and butter? Charlie Parker's 'I Get A Kick Out Of You' is on at the moment. Parker is one of the giants of jazz, one of the top two or three most influential artists in the genre. It's also energized music rippling with melody. Parker it is. Did you know that his nickname was 'Bird'? One of the best nicknames in jazz. Give Bird a try, friends, and you're sure to love him as I do.

He had all sorts of problems (damn you heroin!) but let's not dwell on the negative as so many people do in this wonderful world. Instead let's enjoy those gorgeous flowing runs that sound so effortless.

By the way, is their anything that stimulates the appetite more than the smell of frying onions?