Alert
Charlie Parker fans were delighted when this 1996 CD came out for it includes two previously unreleased (and well-recorded) radio broadcasts featuring the masterful altoist.
Parker is in fine form during his two appearances at Boston's Hi Hat. With Symphony Sid as the disc jockey (he gets
Bird to say a few words here and there),
Parker romps through his usual repertoire, finding something fresh to say on songs that he had already been playing at least five years. Seven selections feature him in 1952 with trumpeter
Joe Gordon, pianist Dick Twardzik, bassist
Charles Mingus and drummer
Roy Haynes, while four others (three are repeated titles from the earlier date) are from 1954 with trumpeter
Herbie Williams, pianist
Rollins Griffith, bassist
Jimmy Woode and drummer
Marquis Foster completing the group. Although both trumpeters (particularly
Gordon) sound fine,
Charlie Parker easily steals the show. The extensive liner notes, which fully discuss all of the engagements that
Bird had in Boston throughout his career, are an added plus.