Charlie Parker - Bird in Kansas City

Presenting a decade-long span of recordings, this unearthed collection includes pieces like ‘Cherokee’, ‘Perdido’ and ‘Body & Soul’ alongside lesser-known compositions and improvisations. Made in an almost entirely private context during return visits to Kansas City following Bird’s departure in 1939, the atmosphere these sessions convey more than seven decades later retains a similarly personal quality. Snippets of speech, light applause and informal chatter place you inside the ambience of the room, along with the few who were lucky enough to witness these performances taking place. Listening today feels akin to sneaking a peek into a brilliant inventor’s secret lab, cautiously observing as he experiments and shapes groundbreaking ideas right before your eyes.

On the surface, Bird appears more casual and laid-back in this relaxed environment, having returned to his native Midwestern hometown in the wake of an early New York stint that saw him struggle to survive. Kansas City was where Parker first immersed himself in jazz, and these recordings capture his connection to his origins, even as he redefined the boundaries of the genre. Music historian Chuck Haddix, who co-produced the album, emphasises that the collection showcases the saxophonist “in his element,” blending familiarity with innovation.

Unlike his studio recordings, these sessions also capture the bebop pioneer in a more undistilled and experimental mode. Tracks like Bird Song #1, #2 and #3 (working titles for improvisational pieces) reveal his exploratory process, as he unfurls his spontaneity with superlative control. The presence of local musicians, including guitarist Efferge Ware on several tracks, further acknowledge Bird’s deep roots in Kansas City’s jazz tradition, even as he ventured into uncharted musical territory. The album also includes two unreleased 78 RPM records with Jay McShann’s band 

- where Parker’s improvisational genius first began to shine - and home recordings made at the residence of his friend, Phil Baxter. These takes highlight the saxophonist’s ability to fuse melodic invention with harmonic complexity, showcasing the techniques that would later go on to define his style.

A radical departure from the danceable swing music of its day, bebop focused instead on intricate harmonies, complex rhythms and virtuosic improvisation. Having remodelled the boundaries of jazz in his own fashion, Parker would help usher in a wave of musicians who would fundamentally alter the genre’s direction from popular entertainment into a sophisticated art form. His knack for unparalleled creativity and fearless innovation made him a symbol of this shift, before his untimely death in 1955 at the age of 34. 

This archival release is a treasure for all listeners, providing a rare opportunity to hear the saxophonist’s genius in its formative stages. It bridges the gap between the raw beginnings of bebop and the refined artistry of Bird’s later years, offering an unparalleled insight into one of the most transformative eras in jazz history.

Barney Whittaker

from www.prestomusic.com