Where is the best place to start a Charlie Parker Collection?

[Freddie Freeloader]

Note that I already have "Jazz at Massey Hall"

[David]

Charlie Parker - Complete Savoy and Dial Recordings!!! It's expensive, but a must, and worth every penny. This set definitely captures Bird's genius.

[Roger Hiles]

It's a 3 CD set, but the "Complete Savoy and Dial Master takes" contains his terrific 40s work, and is the heart of any Parker collection.

Or, Rhino's "Yardbird suite" is a great two disc career overview.

[king ubu]

I would go with David: get the 8CD set Savoy Jazz released a couple of years ago including anything Bird made for the independent labels Dial & Savoy in the mid to late forties. It has the greatest and probably most important Bebop included. Alternate takes are not drag with Bird - seems like with him almost anything he ever played deserves to be heard.
If you get the 8CD box, you have the most important of Birds studio recordings (there are the later ones, which are not that good any more, he made for Verve, collected on the 10-CD "Bird"-box).
What's nice as an addition to the Savoy/Dial is a 4CD set that was also released by Savoy Jazz containing the "complete savoy live recordings", mainly broadcasts from the royal roost, some with Miles, most with Kenny Dorham on trumpet, and many fabulous Bird solos. The set furthermore includes the 20 minute Bird/Diz Carnegie Hall set (1947, I think), and a home recording not without interest, either.

ubu

[Brad]

I'm with the King on this one. If you have the Savoy/Dial and the Savoy 4 cd live set, I think you'll be fixed for the mid to late 40s. The 8 cd set is an essential cornerstone to any decent jazz collection, just as the Hot 5 and Hot 7s are. Some people complain in general about alternate takes but this is one set where the alt takes are essential (i.e. the famous Alto Break). Another positive about the set is that it has the seminal Red Norvo-Bird-Dizzy material. That is great music. You just can't go wrong.

If you're looking for his Verve work, which has his 50s work since he was under contract with Norman Granz, I'd go with that big box set. However, that includes a lot of alternate takes with strings that I'm not wild about in his repertoire. Also you should know that Verve is reissuing this year (I believe) a slimmed down 4 cd set of the master takes. One good thing about the big Verve box is that it has the JATP material and that is just fabulous. In fact, if you can, I'd buy the JATP box, it's just fabulous.

Now, if you're not that ambitious, Proper has put out a set called Boss Bird. I haven't checked it out but I'm sure it's good. I got my introduction to Bird through Rhino's Yardbird Suite, a 2 cd set. It's not a bad little set and gives you the breadth of his music.

In addition, if you can, check out Phil Schapp's show Birdflight on wckr.org weekday morninings at 820-930 am est. It's a very helpful program, although Phil is a controversial figure in a many parts.

[sal]

How does that 4 CD Savoy Live set sound? Has it received that new Savoy 20 bit remastering? If I recall correctly, I think some critics were complaining about the sound. I know the studio sets sound great, but I haven't heard the live sets.

[sal]

By the way....I agree with Roger. The expensive box sets are definitely a great investment, but if you are a bit hesitant on spending that much money on someone you are not familiar with, "Yardbird Suite", the 2 disc set on Rhino, is a great place to start.

[Brad]

Originally posted by sal
How does that 4 CD Savoy Live set sound? Has it received that new Savoy 20 bit remastering? If I recall correctly, I think some critics were complaining about the sound. I know the studio sets sound great, but I haven't heard the live sets.

Parts of it may have since Savoy is doing things with its Parker holdings but the whole set has not. I don't have much trouble with the sound. I mean it is live and I believe a good deal of it may be airshots. In comparison to a lot of his live stuff, this sounds very good. Also priceless is the banter with Symphony Sid. These have been released in Japan a few years ago and contain all of that banter which the US reissue producer eliminated a lot of. So much so that in the US live set, 3 are devoted to the Royal Roost, whereas all 4 of the Japanese issue are Royal Roost and that's because they cut out a lot of Symphony Sid.

[Fran]

I have most of the Dial and Savoy stuff, but I think the essentials are:
The sides with Diz-
Groovin' High
Shaw Nuff
Salt Peanuts
Etc
and the Norvo Comet cuts
Get Happy
Congo Blues
Etc

[clinthopson]

I think the Rhino set is a fine starting place, but eventually you will find yourself needing,.[COLOR=darkred]really needing[COLOR=indigo]all those Dial and Savoy recordings.

[Fran]

Freddie- You are in luck
Proper Records has come out with a 4CD set with 101 Parker cuts.
Should be enough to last anyone a life time. It's not complete, but it SURE IS representative.

[Harold_Z]

Originally posted by David
Charlie Parker - Complete Savoy and Dial Recordings!!! It's expensive, but a must, and worth every penny. This set definitely captures Bird's genius.

I agree. With Bird alternate takes are a feast of differing improvisations. You can't go wrong with this.

Rhino's "Yardbird Suite" could have been wonderful but for the sound. I jumped at buying this when it came out but I have to say I don't dig the sound AT ALL. I had quite a bit of this stuff on vinyl and this set didn't come close in terms of audio...but what great repetoire. The SAVOY/DIAL set equals or betters the vinyl I have.

[Noj]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006H6A6.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Currently only $43 on Amazon. Sounds like a good price(?).

[lazy bird]

Originally posted by David
Charlie Parker - Complete Savoy and Dial Recordings!!! It's expensive, but a must, and worth every penny. This set definitely captures Bird's genius.

I cannot but agree. The Savoy & Dial recordings are Parker's best work. If you don't have a lot of money, you can buy a 4 cd-set with only the master takes. The problem is that the alternate takes include one of the most beautifull Parker ballads: the alternate track of embreacable you.

BTW, the Spanish Definitive label released a cheap 8 cd box with all the sessions.

[lazy bird]

Originally posted by Fran
I have most of the Dial and Savoy stuff, but I think the essentials are:
The sides with Diz-
Groovin' High
Shaw Nuff
Salt Peanuts
Etc
and the Norvo Comet cuts
Get Happy
Congo Blues
Etc

I don't agree. The cuts with Red Norvo are fine, but not the essentials. The sides with Diz are essential, but not the most essential.

IMO opinion some of the essentials are: (this list is not complete)

Savoy & Dial:
Koko
Now's the time
Parker's mood
Bird gets the worm
Klactoveseedstene
Embreacable you (alternate take)

If you dig Parker's live recordings, go for his Royal Roost and 1947 Carnegie Hall recordings with Dizzy Gillespie.
(complete Savoy live recordings)

[kdd]

The Savoy stuff is essential but my favorite is the Live at Birdland with Fats Navarro, incredible stuff. I have it on a 2 LP set from Columbia, I don't know if it's on CD (I'm sure it is in some form)

[gdogus]

Any word on the sound and notes on the "Boss Bird" Proper Box?

[lazy bird]

Originally posted by gdogus
Any word on the sound and notes on the "Boss Bird" Proper Box?

I don't know, but this 8 cd-set is cheap and has good sound:

http://www.disconforme.ad/pages2/definitive/mostrar.asp?ref=DRCD44402

[Bag's Groove]

Freddie,

I really dig DIZ & BIRD AT CARNEGIE HALL. Like JAZZ AT MASSEY HALL it's not the greatest sound quality, and Parker is only on the first five tracks (the rest of it is a Gillespie big band record) but there are killer versions of "Dizzy Atmospheres" and "Groovin High" on it.

[gdogus]

I dig Parker a lot, and would love to have the 8-disc Complete Savoy & Dial Recordings, and the big Verve box too, for that matter. But I'm surprised to find myself quite content with the 3-disc Complete Savoy & Dial Master Takes and the two-disc Confirmation: Best of the Verve Years.

This is the solution that works for me. At the moment.:wink2:

[Muskrat Ramble]

In addition to the Proper box mentioned earlier, there's now a 5-disc (approx. $25 US) set from JSP called Studio Chronicle 1940-1948. Can anyone comment on this set? JSP has certainly put out some very well-regarded collections, like the J.R.T. Davies remastering of the Hot Fives and Sevens.