Bird Is Free is an album by Charlie Parker that documents a concert given at Rockland Palace, New York City, on 26 September 1952.[1] In 1997, Jazz Classics released a more complete documentation of the concert with improved recording quality, Live at Rockland Palace.[2]
| Bird Is Free | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | 1961 | |||
| Recorded | 26 September 1952 | |||
| Venue | Rockland Palace, New York City | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 36:39 | |||
| Charlie Parker chronology | ||||
| ||||
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| DownBeat |  [3] |
The DownBeat reviewer, Leonard Feather, identified limitations of the audio quality, and added: "When Parker begins to play, however, you will forget all about distractions. ... There is brilliant, boiling, poetic Bird in a variety of attitudes here."[3] The AllMusic review concluded: "Throughout, Parker plays with inimitable style and good humor and his quartet, featuring the great drummer Max Roach, swings effortlessly".[1]
Track listing
edit- Side 1
- Rocker (Gerry Mulligan)
- Sly Mongoose (Jamaican trad.)
- Moose the Mooche (Parker)
- Star Eyes (Gene de Paul, Don Raye)
- Side 2
- This Time the Dream's on Me (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer)
- Cool Blues (Parker)
- My Little Suede Shoes (Parker)
- Lester Leaps In (Lester Young)
- Laura (Raksin, Mercer)
Personnel
edit- Charlie Parker – alto sax
- Mundell Lowe – guitar
- Walter Bishop, Jr. – piano
- Teddy Kotick – bass
- Max Roach – drums
- unidentified strings on "Rocker" and "Laura"
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Bird Is Free: Charlie Parker". AllMusic. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ Jazz, All About (1997-02-01). "Charlie Parker: The Complete Legendary Rockland Palace Concert album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ a b Feather, Leonard (September 28, 1961). "Charlie Parker: Bird Is Free". DownBeat. Vol. 28, no. 20. pp. 35–36.