DrJ Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 (edited) Finally broke down and after years ordered this, got a decent deal at half.com ($74 including shipping for used set). It's on the way. I was a little concerned about the remastering being pretty old now, but it looks like Verve will not for a long time (if ever) get everything out in other formats, and everything I've read said sound quality was excellent for the time and I'm not fanatical about it. I have heard much of the music, but the strings, south of the border stuff, and much else I haven't...so what do others think about this set? Edited September 6, 2003 by DrJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 According to Alan Lankin's "Upcoming Jazz Releases" site Verve will release this 3CD-set on October 21: Charlie Parker - The Complete Verve Master Takes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold_Z Posted September 7, 2003 Report Share Posted September 7, 2003 (edited) Tony, You can't go wrong with this one - the sound is fine and even if it's improved sometime in the future who knows when they'll reissue it in it's entirety again. With Bird, alternate takes are always different and always absorbing listening. you're not going to regret this purchase. BTW - BIRD WITH STRINGS is absolutley GREAT. Edited September 7, 2003 by Harold_Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted September 7, 2003 Report Share Posted September 7, 2003 I don't have this, but I have nearly all the material on it mainly on separate Verve releases from the US and Japan. . . .Amazing stuff. A treasure trove. I'm sure the booklet is great. I think you did GOOD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 Yeah, you sure did good! (Lon: the booklet is relatively sparse, but ok. Not one of those which document every aspect of the artist and the era included in the box) How 'bout getting the new 3CD set? Is that worth going for if one has the 10CD box? ubu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 Tony, $74 is a good deal. I like the strings material, not all the time but mostly. There's no one who can liven up strings material like Bird. That tone just flows through the material to really liven it up. Plus, I love the JATP material, although that material's available elsewhere too. I especially like the material with Benny Carter in addition. Good discograpy although the notes aren't overwhelming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJ Posted September 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 Yes, another reason I hesitated is that I have the Verve JATP boxed set, and I believe it has all of the JATP material that's in the Parker box too. I'm getting really excited about hearing the stuff I don't have, though...and everyone's comments are stoking the fires! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 (edited) I don't want to spoil the fun, but I sold the box a few years ago, because I really hated the strings sessions and didn't care for the JATP material. Edited September 8, 2003 by J.A.W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 I join the majority opinion on this one. I bought it when it first came out and absolutely love it! Back before the complete Bird on Verve was released, you could hear stories about Bird's artistic demise during the later period of his life. Looking at pictures of Bird from that time, you could believe it too. The limited number of Verve Bird LPs available often came with a qualifying line to the effect that this happens to be one of the occasions during the Verve years where Bird still played well. Upon purchasing the complete Verve set, I was curious and prepared to listen to the deterioration and decline of a great artist. Imagine my surprise to hear Bird playing at a consistently brilliant level all the way through the box! There are no duds. Some things worked better than others, but Bird had it to the very end and here is the proof. Norman Granz went a bit overboard in trying to prevent Bird from giving "cheap" sessions for the label. He only let Bird record with just his working group once. As a result, however, we have a treasure chest of Bird performing in all sorts of different contexts, with all-star quartets and quintets, with strings, with big bands, with Afro-Cuban bands. The genius always comes through. I don't think that you will be sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 Ok, I bought the Complete Verve LP set back when it was issued. Had to eat cheap tacos for a week, but what the hell. So, how much am I missing on the CD release? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 Cool! Please do - I remember hearing/reading that the CD version had some stuff that was left off the (earlier) LP set, but don't know how much or what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 I don't even remember there being a complete LP set. When was that released? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold_Z Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 Jim - the sound on the cd box is noticebly better than the lp set. Some of the missing material is the JATP stuff and the JAM SESSION with Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 I don't want to spoil the fun, but I sold the box a few years ago, because I really hated the strings sessions and didn't care for the JATP material. Hans, What didn't you like about the JATP material? (I understand strings, that's not too everybody's taste and I don't like large doses myself) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 (edited) Hans, What didn't you like about the JATP material? (I understand strings, that's not too everybody's taste and I don't like large doses myself) I don't like jam sessions and blowing dates - well, I don't like most blowing dates. I agree with Templejazz's remark in his Coltrane Prestige thread, they're often too drawn out and rambling; to my ears musicians sometimes sound ill-matched, and most of the time I find sessions like these not very interesting. Edited September 8, 2003 by J.A.W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJ Posted September 9, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 I find the sound on the Dial/Savoy set to be far superior to the old Dial 4 CD box (I "traded up") and the packaging is far less "amateur" looking. The Denon comparison - can't say, I only had some of the older American Savoy reissues. The other Denon Savoy "mini LP" discs I have (all non-Parker) sound superb, though, so I wouldn't be surprised if they were "the stuff" purely from a sonics standpoint. Still, the Dial/Savoy box is heaven, to have all that stuff in one place, in good sound, and with the bonus Norvo et al session thrown in too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 I don't even remember there being a complete LP set. When was that released? 1984. It was one of those Verve Japanese imports that might as well have been domestic because you could find'em damn near everywhere. 10 LPs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 Some of the missing material is the JATP stuff and the JAM SESSION with Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges. Well, there's a fair amount of JATP stuff on the old box, but I think some new things got unearthed afterwards. The Jam Session is definitely on there - BETTER be, you can't have Bird on Verve w/o "Funky Blues"! The MAIN omission, now that I get the thing out and look at it, is the session w/Machito, and that's just wrong. Don't know how THAT happened. John, I got your PM, btw. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmilovan Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 (edited) Just what John said! Although I have no set, but separate discs - I still cannot find what critic thought when them talked about late Bird. Absolutely marvelous Bird, and his genius is sparkle through all the sessions. And I understand JATP set too. It IS the material of great importance, and some of the greatest Bird's solos ever are included. And JATP's are not blowing sessions Edited September 9, 2003 by mmilovan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris olivarez Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 Ok, I bought the Complete Verve LP set back when it was issued. Had to eat cheap tacos for a week, but what the hell. So, how much am I missing on the CD release? Cheap Tacos and Bird now that doesn't seem like such a bad combination assuming the tacos were good.You strike me as the type that has no problem finding good inexpensive Mexican food and even if you didn't in this case you still got Bird and I'm sure the good mexican food has come your wat many times over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris olivarez Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 (edited) Ok, I bought the Complete Verve LP set back when it was issued. Had to eat cheap tacos for a week, but what the hell. So, how much am I missing on the CD release? Cheap Tacos and Bird now that doesn't seem like such a bad combination assuming the tacos were good.You strike me as the type that has no problem finding good inexpensive Mexican food and even if you didn't in this case you still got Bird and I'm sure the good mexican food has come your way many times over. Edited September 9, 2003 by chris olivarez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold_Z Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 Some of the missing material is the JATP stuff and the JAM SESSION with Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges. Well, there's a fair amount of JATP stuff on the old box, but I think some new things got unearthed afterwards. The Jam Session is definitely on there - BETTER be, you can't have Bird on Verve w/o "Funky Blues"! The MAIN omission, now that I get the thing out and look at it, is the session w/Machito, and that's just wrong. Don't know how THAT happened. John, I got your PM, btw. Thanks! I dug out my lps too to take a gander - I just didn't remember that stuff being on there! Turns out I had the 6 lp set "THE VERVE YEARS". Three twofers. It's an American Verve set with a 1976 copyright on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 Some of the missing material is the JATP stuff and the JAM SESSION with Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges. Well, there's a fair amount of JATP stuff on the old box, but I think some new things got unearthed afterwards. The Jam Session is definitely on there - BETTER be, you can't have Bird on Verve w/o "Funky Blues"! The MAIN omission, now that I get the thing out and look at it, is the session w/Machito, and that's just wrong. Don't know how THAT happened. John, I got your PM, btw. Thanks! I dug out my lps too to take a gander - I just didn't remember that stuff being on there! Turns out I had the 6 lp set "THE VERVE YEARS". Three twofers. It's an American Verve set with a 1976 copyright on it. The three two-fers were what I had too. I didn't remember that a complete LP set came out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJ Posted September 10, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 Just arrived last night, minor wear on the outside box but otherwise in great shape. Only had a chance to do a quick A/B comparison of remastering quality between the material I did have in more recent Verve Master Editions (BIRD & DIZ and CHARLIE PARKER) and the boxed set remasterings of the same material. I have to say, I don't hear much difference between the two versions at all; perhaps a slight advantage for the later remasterings in the dynamic range and presence of the bass. These were never great recordings sonically, but unlike the magic RVG has been working with the early 1950's Doug Hawkins BN recordings (e.g. Monk GENIUS OF MODERN MUSIC), Verve haven't done much to make this Parker material sound better on their Master Editions. The music, of course, speaks for itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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