Description
Charlie Parker – The Magnificent Charlie Parker – RSD Yellow Vinyl Record
Record Store Day Black Friday 2019, “RSD First” release, quantity 3,000.
The rarest bird 12″ Limited Edition Color Vinyl
Charlie Parker – The Magnificent Charlie Parker is a seminal compilation album that showcases some of the alto saxophonist’s most groundbreaking and influential work, originally recorded for the Savoy and Dial labels in the mid-to-late 1940s. Though the exact configuration of the album has varied across reissues, the title The Magnificent Charlie Parker is most commonly associated with a 1955 release on Clef Records (later absorbed into Verve), which brought together some of Parker’s most pivotal bebop recordings in a single LP. The sessions represented here capture the essence of Parker’s genius, as he redefined jazz improvisation, harmony, and phrasing during a critical period of transformation in American music.
This collection, like many Parker compilations, isn’t a traditional album in the modern sense—it’s an anthology of various Savoy and Dial sessions, recorded between 1945 and 1948. But what unites these tracks is Parker’s visionary approach to melody and rhythm, as well as the dazzling interplay between him and his peers, which included the likes of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Bud Powell, and Curley Russell, among others. These collaborations represent some of the earliest and most innovative explorations of bebop, a style that shifted jazz away from danceable big-band swing and toward more cerebral, small-group improvisation.
Notable tracks that frequently appear on The Magnificent Charlie Parker include:
“Now’s the Time” – A mid-tempo blues that became one of Parker’s signature pieces. It’s deceptively simple, yet Parker’s phrasing here is full of invention, swing, and swagger. This track is an essential study in how bebop could infuse traditional blues structures with modern harmonic complexity.
“Ko-Ko” – An intense, rapid-fire reimagining of “Cherokee,” this track is often cited as one of the most electrifying recordings in jazz history. Parker’s solo is virtuosic, fluid, and fearless, and Max Roach’s drumming propels the performance into uncharted rhythmic territory. It’s often seen as a defining moment in bebop.
“Billie’s Bounce” – Another blues-based composition, this one showcases Parker’s melodic genius and ability to construct a narrative arc in just a few choruses. The tune became a bebop standard, beloved by musicians and audiences alike.
“Ornithology” – Co-written with trumpeter Benny Harris, this composition is built on the chord changes to “How High the Moon” and exemplifies the contrafact technique often used in bebop. The melody is intricate, and Parker’s improvisation is as agile as it is intellectually rich.
“Scrapple from the Apple” – A Parker original based on rhythm changes, this track reflects his ability to rework familiar harmonic frameworks into entirely new vehicles for improvisation.
Each track in this collection demonstrates Parker’s revolutionary approach to phrasing: he plays across bar lines, introduces flurries of notes without losing melodic clarity, and applies advanced harmonic substitutions, all while maintaining a sense of swing and emotional immediacy.
From a historical standpoint, The Magnificent Charlie Parker helped introduce Parker’s legacy to the LP generation. While these recordings were originally issued as 78 RPM singles, the 1955 release brought them together in a longer-play format, giving fans and future jazz musicians a more comprehensive way to absorb Parker’s contributions. It was an important document at a time when the myth of “Bird”—as both genius and tragic figure—was becoming codified in American music history.
The Magnificent Charlie Parker is not just a collection of tunes, it’s a chronicle of bebop’s birth, a showcase of Parker’s enduring brilliance, and a foundational text for modern jazz. Whether you’re a lifelong jazz aficionado or a newcomer exploring the roots of improvisational music, this album stands as an essential listening experience—full of energy, intellect, soul, and sheer musical daring.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Au Privave
She Rote
K. C. Blues
Star Eyes
In The Still Of The Night
Old Folks
Blues For Alice
Si Si
Swedish Schnapps
Back Home Blues
Lover Man
Why Do I Love You
