Along with a complete duplication of the 24 performances included in Complete Verve Masters with Strings, which was issued a year earlier than this set, there are 50 other master takes here produced by
Norman Granz, ranging from a 1947 Carnegie Hall date to
Parker's last in 1954. Many of the cuts come from 1950-1952. Half of the 1949 sessions are string dates; the rest come from sessions with
Kenny Dorham,
Tommy Turk,
Al Haig,
Tommy Potter, and
Carlos Vidal. The most rewarding performances are a reunion of sorts with
Dizzy Gillespie and
Thelonious Monk, along with
Curly Russell and
Buddy Rich, from April 1950. These tracks are nearly seminal versions of "Mohawk," "Leapfrog," and "Relaxin' with Lee," along with fine reads of "Bloomdido," "An Oscar for Treadwell," and "My Melancholy Baby." Four other cuts come from a brief reunion with
Miles Davis and
Max Roach in January of 1951 with
Teddy Kotick and
Walter Bishop, Jr. rounding out the band, and include smokingly hot versions of "Au Privave," "She Rote," and "K.C Blues." Other musicians who appear here are
Oscar Peterson,
Red Rodney,
Kenny Clarke,
John Lewis, and
Billy Bauer, among dozens of others. The package is beautiful in a decorated, painted silver metal box that the CDs fold out of, but the booklet -- like Universal's
Joni Mitchell set -- falls apart because of bogus stitching. There is undoubtedly great music here, although it would have worked better as a double set to respect those who were righteous enough to buy the strings disc. ~ Thom Jurek