It has long been acknowleged that Charlie Parker (1920-1955) was jazz’s most virtousic alto saxophonist and perhaps its most brilliant virtuoso on any instrument. And Parker’s virtousity was of a special sort–not just speed of execution but a rush of meaningful musical thought so torrential that at times it bordered on the frenetic. But now that image of Parker’s music has been altered, quite unexpectedly, by a CD of never before released live performances, “Charlie Parker–Boston 1952” (Uptown).
The CD begins with seven tracks from a 1952 club date (the remaining four come from 1954), and on them the sheer connectedness of Parker’s playing–the way every fleeting gesture flows into the next to form a dazzling, coherent whole–is at a level notably higher than any Parker had reached before.
Second, and perhaps more surprising, is the emotional tone of the music. Before this, Parker at his most inspired was Parker at his most driven, a man who played as though there were a hellhound on his trail. But on this afternoon in Boston, it seems that, for once, nothing stood between Parker and his quest to capture and express all aspects of every thought that crossed his mind. As a result, this music doesn’t sound frenzied or tormented at all but almost paradisic–as though Parker had burst through to a realm where each need is met the instant he conceives of it.
How this could have happened at all is one question. (Perhaps, Parker was stimulated by the presence in his rhythm section of a gifted and very unusual young pianist, Dick Twardzik.) Another question is why this may have happened just once–for if it had happened earlier or later in Parker’s career, it seems likely it would have been captured on one of his large number of studio and live recordings.
Then, there is a third question, to which these performances give new intensity: Did Charlie Parker, at his peak, reach some sort of absolute limit of musical execution and expression? It would be strange if that were true, but listen to his performance of, say, “Groovin’ High” here and ask yourself if you’ve ever heard anything like it.
