ESP 4050  – Charlie Parker – Bird in Time 1940-1947
by Peter Wockner

Jazz and especially ‘Modern Jazz’ has always been heavily reliant upon zealous Public Radio Broadcasters as a means of exposing the music that never receives mainstream coverage.  Now even the legendary figure, Charlie Parker who moved jazz mountains in the 1940’s, posthumously relies on a dedicated American Public Broadcaster in Michael D. Anderson, along with an adventurous record label to acutely chart his lead role in the development of a music reluctantly labelled ‘Be-bop’.  This 4 disc set is definitely no historical compilation.  Rather, it is an aural documentary featuring rare conversations with ‘Bird’ himself, interviews with the likes of Max Roach, Howard McGee, Roy Porter, Earl Coleman and Ted Edwards and previously un-released material such as Parker’s first known demo recording.  Dated at 1936 or 1937 when he was 16 or 17, this is proof alone that he “never changed his style” when he moved to New York. The most revealing music comes in the form of three guitar duo takes with………….captured in 1942 with Parker yet to have an original ‘Be-bop’ tune at his disposal but adapting ‘Cherokee’ and ‘Body and Soul’ to suit the new music style he was spawning.

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