Name: Jam Session
Brand: Charlie Parker

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

840114

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Colour

Yellow

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2020-11-20

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

8436563183065

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / yellow

Artist

Charlie Parker

Genre GB

Jazz

Label GB

Birds Nest

Charlie Parker, an American alto saxophonist and composer, was a pioneer of bebop music. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. Known as 'Bird', Parker was a virtuoso on the saxophone and introduced groundbreaking harmonic ideas into jazz. His innovative use of rapid passing chords, altered chords, and chord substitutions revolutionized the genre.
Parker tragically passed away at the age of 34 in New York City. Although his official cause of death was lobar pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer, he also suffered from cirrhosis and had experienced a heart attack. Remarkably, the coroner who performed his autopsy mistakenly estimated Parker's body to be much older than it actually was.

Very much in line with his Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts, which were intended to recreate the magic of a spontaneous jam session in front of a massive audience, producer Norman Granz also brought together several first-rate jazz soloists in the studio in order create 'Jam Session' albums.

This 1952 date is the only one of the series featuring Charlie Parker. It was originally divided onto two LPs, the first volume bearing a yellow cover, and the second one with the same David Stone Martin illustration but with a red cover. Jam Session marks Charlie Parker's only recorded encounter with Charlie Shavers, Ben Webster or Johnny Hodges. He had participated with Benny Carter (and also with a third alto saxophonist, Willie Smith) on a taped 1946 AFRS radio show that constitutes their only other conjunct recording. Bird and Flip Phillips had a long history of recording together, beginning with a Sarah Vaughan session for the Continental label in 1945 and a Red Norvo date for the Comet label that same year, as well as further studio dates and JATP live performances organized by Granz. Barney Kessel had recorded with Parker in 1947 during the Dial session that produced among other titles the celebrated Relaxin' at Camarillo. Bird and Oscar Peterson only recorded together on one other occasion, a March 25, 1952 big band session that was also made for Norman Granz.

During the time Jam Session was recorded, Parker was trying to stay away from heroin, but that accentuated his alcohol consumption, as shown in the photographs taken at the date, where he looked tired and had gained much weight. His playing, however, was truly exceptional. For the ballad medley Bird chose Dearly Beloved. This is the only reading of the tune in the entire Parker discography, either live or in the studio.

Jam Session

Music GB