Charlie Parker And Friends

Released by Dreyfus Records in 2003, Charlie Parker & Friends is a regular utility Charlie Parker collection made up of 19 classic bop recordings made during the years 1946-1952 for the Savoy, Dial, and Verve labels. The "friends" include people like Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Red Rodney, and Thelonious Monk, as well as members of Joe Lippman's big band. With literally dozens upon dozens of Charlie Parker albums to choose from, the casual listener might enjoy the blend of material that lends variety to this unstructured sampler. Those who wish to savor the idiosyncrasies of Bird's three major catalogs (Verve, Dial and Savoy) should go after albums that focus upon those labels. Those who desire a concise chronological index of Bird's recorded output need only pursue Parker albums that are clearly organized according to dates and timelines. As for Charlie Parker & Friends by Dreyfus, the music is wonderful and the cover art is breathtaking (almost like something painted by Sonia or Robert Delaunay). ~ arwulf arwulf|