Charlie PARKER - South of the Border 1948-1952

Charlie PARKER - South of the Border 1948-1952
Label: Verve

Jazz

In South of the Border, Charlie Parker is given a chance to let his magic work on eight beautiful Latin melodies. He puts a new life in them, makes them jump and swirl, and breathe, and glow again from contact with his amazing musical mind.

Original recordings produced by Norman Granz. Supervised by Michael Lang. Researched and restored by Phil Schaap. Mastered by Suha Gur at PolyGram Studios. Excutive producer: Richard Seidel. Tracks 1-3: Recorded December 1948 in New York City. Tracks 4-8: Recorded March 1951 in New York City. Tracks 9-13: Recorded January 1952 in New York City. Track 14: Recorded December 1950 in New York City.
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Charlie Parker at the peak of his powers in the setting of an Afro-Cuban big band. The arrangements are great and Bird sounds totaly inspired! Such a deal!
Listen to Parker and Flip Phillips trading fours in the "Jazz" section of Chico O'Farrel's "Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite"! Good Lord!!!
This is but one more piece of evidence that Charlie Parker was the greatest musical mind of the twentieth century. The only musician I can think of who approaches him in terms of imagination is Mozart. By my calculations those two guys should have a peer born into the world somewhere around the year 2084.
Don't wait. Check this out now!
By  K. L. Ritz.
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This Verve CD pulls together recordings from 1949-52 that were originally scattered across a handful of 10" LPs. Seven of the tunes here come from the original SOUTH OF THE BORDER 10," which featured a typical Parker ensemble of the period (Walter Bishop, Jr., piano; Teddy Kotick, bass; Roy Haynes or Max Roach, drums) augmented by Latin percussionists Jose Mangual and Luis Miranda. The three opening cuts feature Bird blowing through arrangements played by Machito and His Afro-Cuban Orchestra (originally released on MACHITO JAZZ WITH FLIP AND BIRD); Machito and orchestra return for the extended "Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite" composed by Chico O'Farill.

The small group recordings sound like small group Bird recordings without the driving tempos, ornate melodic structure or reliance on either blues or "I Got Rhythm" chord changes. On "No Noise (Part 1)", one of the shorter Machito tunes, it's particularly interesting to hear Parker stretch out over the simple two-chord vamp. The "Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite" includes solos by Bird but was not written with the altoist in mind. Rather, O'Farill wrote the piece as an extended jazz composition with occasional soloists; Parker was called in during the session to replace Harry "Sweets" Edison.
From CD Universe.
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Machito- (Maracas);
Gene Johnson, Fred Skerritt- (Alto Saxophone);
Jose Madera, Flip Phillips, Sol Rabinowitz- (Tenor Saxophone);
Leslie Johnakins- (Baritone Saxophone);
Bauza- (Trumpet, clarinet);
Paquito Davilla, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Al Stewart, Bobby Woodlen- (Trumpet);
Rene Hernandez- (Piano, Bass);
Roberto Rodriguez- (Bass);
Buddy Rich- (Drums);
Jose Mangual- (Bongos);
Luis Miranda, Chano Pozo- (Congas);
Ubaldo Nieto- (Timbales).
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01. Mango Mangue Charlie Parker 2:56  
02. Okiedoke Charlie Parker 3:05  
03. No Noise Charlie Parker 5:54 
04. My Little Suede Shoes Charlie Parker Sextet 3:06 
05. Un Poquito De Tu Amor Charlie Parker Sextet 2:43 
06. Why Do I Love You? Charlie Parker Sextet 3:08  
07. Tico Tico Charlie Parker Sextet 2:46 
08. Fiesta Charlie Parker Sextet 2:52 
09. La Cucaracha Charlie Parker Septet 2:45  
10. Mama Inez Charlie Parker Septet 2:52  
11. Estrellita Charlie Parker Septet 2:45  
12. La Paloma Charlie Parker Septet 2:42 
13. Begin The Beguine Charlie Parker Sextet 3:16 
14. Medley:The Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite Charlie Parker 17:14
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