Music Monday - Charlie Parker

Things are sort of dull around the Music Monday composing room, so for the next few weeks the cracked editorial staff has decided on a new feature for the day:

The artwork of David Stone Martin on record covers.

One exciting work of art (called Illustration by some) will be presented here each week until they run out. Each is a scan from the editor's personal library and the original copyrights apply.

They are presented here for admiration and educational purposes only.

Charlie Parker was/is considered one of the key influences in all of jazz. He died March12, 1955 at age 34 while watching the Dorsey brothers television program which was the summer replacement for the Jackie Gleason Show.

Parker’s saxophone style usually seemed frenetic but was actually well calculated melody. He seemed to dislike empty places in known melodies and usually filled them in with graceful trills and runs. No squeals or honks; just improvised melody.

The album with strings is an album that anyone can appreciate. It handles standard songs and jazz numbers in a tasteful manner. The shimmering passages invented on the spot by Parker can be heard throughout.

There are various incarnations of this album including the 45RPM illustrated above-right. There was a 10" LP and a 12" LP and numerous re-issues.

Just above is the David Stone Martin artwork for one of the original LP issues.

This collection comes from various sources from 1947 through 1952. Parker is accompanied by four or five orchestras with varying combinations of musicians. Included are jazz musicians
Stan Freeman, Piano
Al Haig, Piano
Lou Stein, Piano
Ray Brown, Bass
Tommy Potter, Bass
Manny Albam, Bass
Bob Haggart. Bass
Buddy Rich, Drums
Don Lamond, Drums
Shelly Mann, Drums
Saxes: Toots Mondello, Flip Phillips
Trombones: Bill Harris, Will Bradley
Trumpets: Chris Griffin, Bernie Glow
...and many others.

Here are the selections on the CD version:
Just Friends
Everything Happens to Me
April In Paris (1949)
Summertime
I Didn't Know What Time it Was
If I Should Lose You
Dancing in the Dark
Laura
East of the Sun
They Can’t Take That Away from Me
Easy to Love (1950)
I’m in the Mood for Loave
I’ll Remember April
What is This Thing Called Love
April In Paris (1950)
Repetition ( 950)
Easy to Love (1950 - live)
Rocker
Temptation
Lover
Stella By Starlight
Repetition (1947)

The Profile (more than you really wanted to know)is HERE.

Lost Gallery The rescue mission for battered and abused orphan photographs.

Still the most popular page on this blog. The Subway Collection