Quasimado

Ko Ko is based on "Rhythm" changes? Q.

Drummer seems limited. Q

Thanks for that. I suspected as much, and it seems to fit with Loren Shoenberg's quote. Still, it's Lester at a peak - I've got to hear it! But then I have so much of this set already! Q

Medjuck's comment aside, nobody has attempted to directly answer this. The released version is one of the classic solos - and an alternate take has surfaced ... no opinions? Q.

Right - amazing Bird - what a musical mind! Q

Well, if you already have the Geneva Concert, probably not (unless you are an Ernie Henry completest like me). Rhythm-A-Ning is heavily edited, so Ernie and Monks’ solos are not included - the track opens with PCs arco solo, leading into 4’s and then to the out-theme. Bemsha Swing is complete and the band is hot, with fine, strong Henry and powerful Monk. My personal feeling is that Henry (problems aside) was the ideal reedman for Monk. He was always a fluent, intriguing soloist from the early days with Fats, Dameron etc.(’47), and he then went on to play lead alto/ soloist in Dizzy’s big band, so he was deeply schooled in bop and was also an excellent musician (which Monk liked). His solo style was based in Bird, but highly individual - quirky in fact – just perfect for Monk! It’s unfortunate there is so little recorded evidence of the two playing together. Q

Right! And the two? tracks have been appended at the end of the "Geneva Concert 1966" CD with Monk, Rouse etc. Personnel for the Philly Bluenote tracks of 11-17-56: Monk, Henry, Paul Chambers, Willie Jones. Details here: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Geneva-Concert-THELONIOUS-QUARTET/dp/B00NGVNKO8 Great find! Many thanks. Q

After "Brilliant Corners" Henry went on the road with Monk to Philly ... that would be the place ... but no tapes exist, it would seem ... Q

Very nice, of course ... but Why oh Why couldn't they have given him a chorus or two to play on? What a wasted opportunity, like the much vaunted "Clifford with Strings". Q

Nice article. I heard Ted a few years ago, and his playing was just beautiful - relaxed, spontaneous, melodic, flowing, swinging - on a par with Lee or Warne. His dedication to the music is admirable. Q

Yeah, great story ... I personally know of one of these alternates an acquaintance has had since at least mid-2011, and it wouldn't seem unreasonable to assume that it and other alternates were circulating well before that date ... Anyway, I've pre-ordered. Q

It would be interesting to know just how many of the alternate takes were available at the time "The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve" box was compiled (1988). The same can be said of the recently released "Charlie Parker with Strings" which contains "18 newly discovered, previously unreleased alternate takes". Phil's liner notes make no reference to their "rediscovery". Q

It's been brought to my notice that the "Complete Charlie Parker on Verve" was issued in 1988 (28 years ago), which could mean that although Phil had access to the Verve archives at the time, they may have been incomplete, and the new alternatives are recent discoveries. If that's true, I may have done Phil a disservice. Q

Re Bird the m/f played some of those unissued takes on Bird Flight and still didn't include them in his "complete" box! Q

As BillF said ... Q

Amazing that most of the alternate takes have not been released until now - there is some beautiful Bird here. Q.

Right Larry. That's a VERY serious album. For contrast, on the ballad "It's the Talk of the Town" Diz is beautiful, no mistake - but Getz is sublime. Q

Great Interview - thanks. Q

Very sage comment. Q

No accounts of Lee Konitz and Bird playing together? Seems surprising ... Q.

Any specifics? "generally thought to be a bad influence" is a little surprising, although I guess it's not hard to imagine some people taking that line. Personally I have never heard it. Q.

Yeah, but surely my house is OK ... or my bank account ... or my wife ... (well, at the very least, my Charlie Parker collection is safe, isn't it ... isn't it?). Q.

Care to elaborate? Q

Chet was who he was, he did what he did. In the musical field, a lot of that was great. Q