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1547

Previously Unreleased Live Recordings of Charlie Parker And Dizzy Gillespie Out
Now Date: September 1, 2008 Written By: Jeff Tamarkin

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Uptown Records has announced the release of two new additions to its Flashback
Series, featuring two of the jazz world's most immortal figures: Charlie Parker,
Washington, D.C., May 23, 1948 and Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Showtime at the
Spotlite. The Parker, Washington release is from a live concert produced by
Willis Conover, whose Voice of America broadcasts promoted good will and
captivated millions of jazz fans all over the world for more than 40 years. The
CD features the bebop segment of a concert entitled "Jam Session #3: Dixieland
vs. Bebop," a somewhat provocative title that, despite its inaccuracy in
context, offers an interesting perspective on the aesthetic controversy existing
within jazz at the time. This recording offers Parker accompanied by some of
Washington's finest local bop musicians and, most importantly and rewardingly,
drummer Buddy Rich.
Parker (pictured) is featured on six of the eight tracks. A tiny humorous
segment of Rich responding to the audience's request for Gene Krupa hits offers
a palpable sense of "being there" that adds to the CD's charm. The opening track
features the ensemble (without Parker and Rich) offering "Tiny's Blues," with
Earl Swope on trombone, trumpeter Charlie Walp, tenorman Ben Lary, drummer Joe
Theimer, Mert Oliver on bass and pianist Sam Krupit. That ensemble, with Rich
and bassist Art Phipps instead, accompanies Parker on three tracks: "Bernie's
Tune," "These Foolish Things" and "Scrapple from the Apple ." Two quartet
performances follow: Parker's "Ornithology" and his classic "KoKo,."

A 52-page booklet, filled with more than three dozen photos and original
posters, and extensive, informative essays by Ira Gitler, Ron Fritts and Ross
Firestone, is included.

The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band CD captures the seminal days of Gillespie's big
band in mid-1946. The17-man ensemble is heard on 100+ minutes of music contained
on two CDs.

An array of future heavyweights is on board, including Thelonious Monk, Ray
Brown and Kenny Clarke as the rhythm section, along with Milt Jackson on vibes
and longtime Gillespie tenor cohort James Moody. Most of the arrangements were
provided by Gil Fuller, one of Jazz' most notable and respected
composer/arrangers. In addition to the groundbreaking Fuller/Gillespie
composition "Things to Come," selections include some of Gillespie's most
popular compositions, many of which remained longtime staples of not only
Gillespie's, but of the general contemporary Jazz repertoire: "Woody'n You,"
"Shaw Nuff," "One Bass Hit," "Groovin' High" and "Oo-Bop Sh'Bam" (the last two
arranged by Gillespie). There is also a beautiful Fuller treatment of Monk's
gorgeous "'Round Midnight" and two arrangements by Tadd Dameron of his own "Our
Delight" and "Cool Breeze."

Dave Burns, Elmon Wright, Johnny Lynch and Talib Dawud comprise the rest of the
trumpet section; Slim Moore, Leon Comegys and Gordon Thomas are the trombonists;
and the reed section includes Howard Johnson and John Brown on altos, tenorman
Ray Abrams and Sol Moore on bari.


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