Charlie Parker – Afro Cuban Bop: The Long Lost Bird Live Recordings (CD)

Following the critical praise for the set as a Record Store Day UK release, this CD debut captures one of the biggest names in jazz – at the peak of his powers – live in concert.

This live album contains 18 selections from Charlie Parker, one of jazz’s greatest saxophonists. All the recordings were captured in the late 1940s and early ’50s at storied venues such as Carnegie Hall and Birdland in New York, The Jubilee in Los Angeles, and the Portland Civic Auditorium.

Focused on experiments in Afro-Cuban fusion, Parker is joined by a dazzling array of jazz legends including Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Art Blakey, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Red Rodney, and others. The track listing matches the cast of musicians – classics ‘Cherokee’ and ‘A Night in Tunisia’ are captured in pristine form, while maintaining the live-ness and intimate jazz spontaneity of Parker’s best recordings.

The package includes an essay by rock keyboardist Keith Emerson. While these tracks have previously appeared on other albums, this is the first time they have been gathered in this package.

Track listing 

1) Dizzy Atmosphere

2) A Night In Tunisia

3) Groovin High

4) Confirmation

5) Lament For the Congo

6) Mambo Fortunado

7) Salt Peanuts

8) Leo The Lion Part 1

9) Cuban Holiday

10) Lemon

11) The Goof and I

12) Leo The Lion Part 2

13) Night and Day

14) My Funny Valentine

15) Cherokee

16) One the Alamo

17) Manteca

18) A Short One