Description
Charlie Parker – Unheard Bird The Unissued Takes – Double Compact Discs
Newly discovered Bird flights from Charlie Parker.
2-CD set.
Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes is a fascinating archival jazz collection centered on the artistry of Charlie Parker, one of the most influential musicians in the history of modern music. Drawing from previously unreleased studio takes, alternate versions, and rare recordings, the collection offers listeners a unique opportunity to hear Parker’s creative process in action. Rather than simply presenting familiar master recordings, Unheard Bird reveals the spontaneity, experimentation, and constant innovation that characterized Parker’s approach to improvisation and performance, making it an invaluable document for both dedicated jazz enthusiasts and students of music history.
Charlie Parker, often known by his nickname “Bird,” was a central architect of the bebop revolution that transformed jazz during the 1940s. Through his extraordinary technical skill, harmonic sophistication, rhythmic imagination, and melodic creativity, Parker helped redefine the possibilities of improvisation and established a new musical language that continues to influence artists across genres. His recordings remain foundational texts for jazz musicians, and any newly discovered or previously unavailable material carries immense historical significance.
What makes Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes especially compelling is its ability to illuminate aspects of Parker’s artistry that are often hidden by polished master recordings. In traditional album releases, listeners typically hear the final selected performance. This collection instead allows audiences to experience alternate takes, revealing how Parker approached the same composition in different ways. Each performance demonstrates his remarkable capacity for spontaneous invention, showing that even when working within familiar structures, he rarely repeated himself.
The album provides valuable insight into the improvisational nature of bebop. Parker’s solos often sound fully formed and inevitable, yet these alternate takes reveal the constant flow of ideas that fueled his creativity. Listeners can hear him exploring different melodic pathways, rhythmic approaches, and harmonic possibilities from one take to the next. The variations between performances highlight both his consistency as a master improviser and his endless desire to push beyond established solutions.
The collection showcases many of the qualities that made Parker a transformative figure in jazz. His alto saxophone tone remains vibrant and expressive, while his improvisations display the dazzling speed, precision, and harmonic sophistication that became his trademark. Yet beyond the technical brilliance, the recordings reveal an artist deeply committed to emotional expression and musical communication. Every phrase reflects a balance between intellect and feeling, innovation and swing.
The supporting musicians featured throughout the collection are also an important part of the story. Parker frequently collaborated with many of the greatest jazz musicians of his era, and these recordings capture the dynamic interplay between artists who were collectively reshaping the future of jazz. The interactions between soloists and rhythm sections provide valuable context for understanding how bebop developed as a collaborative musical movement rather than simply the product of individual genius.
A particularly rewarding aspect of Unheard Bird is the perspective it offers on the recording studio as a creative environment. Rather than presenting Parker as an untouchable icon, the collection reveals him as a working artist engaged in exploration and discovery. Hearing multiple versions of the same material emphasizes that great art often emerges through experimentation, risk-taking, and continual refinement. This human dimension adds depth to our understanding of Parker’s legacy and artistic process.
For historians and serious jazz listeners, the collection serves as an important archival resource. It documents performances that might otherwise have remained unheard, preserving valuable moments in the evolution of one of jazz’s greatest innovators. The recordings help fill gaps in the historical record while providing fresh material for analysis and appreciation. At the same time, the music remains highly enjoyable on a purely aesthetic level, offering exciting performances that stand on their own merits.
The release of previously unissued Parker material has consistently generated enthusiasm within the jazz community because of the enduring significance of his work. Collections such as Unheard Bird remind listeners that even decades after his death, new discoveries can continue to deepen our understanding of his artistry. Each alternate take offers another glimpse into the mind of a musician whose influence extends far beyond jazz into virtually every form of modern improvised music.
With its rare recordings, historical importance, and extraordinary performances, Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes is an essential addition to the Charlie Parker discography. The collection captures the restless creativity and boundless imagination that defined his career, allowing listeners to witness the improvisational process of a true musical genius. Fascinating, illuminating, and musically exhilarating, Unheard Bird stands as both a valuable historical document and a celebration of one of the greatest artists in the history of jazz.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Okiedoke Incomplete 1:37
Okiedoke Alternate Take 3:17
Okiedoke Incomplete 1:52
Okiedoke Alternate Take 3:15
Okiedoke Released Master 3:05
Visa Incomplete 0:44
Visa Alternate Take 3:03
Visa False Start 0:16
1Visa Released Master 3:01
Tune X Incomplete & False Start 1:46
Tune X Alternate Take 3:20
Tune X Incomplete 1:17
Tune X, A.K.A “Diverse” Released Master 3:19
Tune X, A.K.A “Segment” Released Master 3:23
Tune Y False Starts 0:30
Tune Y, A.K.A “passport” Released ‘rare’ Master 2:56
Tune Z False Start 0:07
Tune Z Alternate Take 2:56
Tune Z False Starts 0:39
Tune Z Alternate Take 2:52
Tune Z False Starts 1:08
Tune Z Alternate Take 3:09
Tune Z, Also A.K.A. “Passport” Released ‘common’ Master 3:03
If I Should Lose You False Starts 0:28
If I Should Lose You Released Master 2:50
Star Eyes Incomplete & False Start 1:10
Star Eyes Incomplete 2:05
Star Eyes Released Master 3:30
Blues (fast) False Starts 1:06
Blues (fast) alternate take 2:50
Blues (fast) False Start 0:21
Blues (fast) Alternate Take 2:44
Blues (fast) Incomplete 0:42
Blues (fast) Alternate Take 2:50
Blues (fast) Abandoned Take, Studio Chatter 0:14
Blues (fast) Released Master 2:48
Bloomdido False Starts 1:12
Bloomdido Released Master 3:25
An Oscar For Treadwell Incomplete 1:54
An Oscar For Treadwell Incomplete 0:57
An Oscar For Treadwell Released Alternate Take 3:24
An Oscar For Treadwell Released Master 3:24
Mohawk incomplete & false start 1:09
Mohawk Released Alternate Take 3:51
Mohawk False Start 1:53
Mohawk Released Master 3:40
My Little Suede Shoes Alternate Take W/ False Start 3:03
My Little Suede Shoes Alternate Take 3:19
My Little Suede Shoes Alternate Take 3:09
My Little Suede Shoes Released Master 3:07
Tico Tico Alternate Take W/ False Start 3:10
Tico Tico False Starts 1:24
Tico Tico Alternate Take 2:48
Tico Tico False Starts 0:52
Tico Tico Released Master 2:46
Fiesta Alternate Take W/ False Start 3:22
Fiesta Released Master 2:52
Mama Inez Alternate Take 3:02
Mama Inez Released Master 2:53
Night And Day Alternate Take 2:55
Night And Day Alternate Take 3:02
Night And Day Released Master 2:53
Almost Like Being In Love Alternate Take 2:32
Almost Like Being In Love False Start & Incomplete 1:21
Almost Like Being In Love Released Master 2:38
What Is This Thing Called Love Incomplete 1:18
What Is This Thing Called Love Alternate Take 2:16
What Is This Thing Called Love Incomplete 1:21
What Is This Thing Called Love Released Master
