CD: Birth of a bird
WDR Big-Band
publication date: 18 Nov 2022
"Celebrating The Music Of Charlie Parker" - the renowned and award-winning WDR Big Band pays tribute to the bebop genius under the direction of Michael Abene.
Charlie "Bird" Parker was not even 35 years old, but his influence as one of the greatest musicians of the past century and co-inventor of bebop is immense. When the saxophonist and composer's 100th birthday came around in 2020, the international jazz world was ready with numerous and varied tributes, despite Covid restrictions, and the WDR Big Band and its longtime principal conductor Michael Abene also performed a worthy program at the Philharmonie in Cologne just a week after Parker's birthday, which was re-recorded in the studio for this album
At the center of the music, transformed with great virtuosity and Abene's own profundity into the sound world of a big band, should be two alto saxophonists soloist: the WDR lead alto Johan Hörlén and his colleague Luigi Grasso from the NDR Bigband. Bebop, jazz and big band sounds find each other on "Birth Of A Bird" in an exciting new way, elegant, harmonious or surprising, but always in the Charlie Parker spirit. It remains: Only the best live forever!
Charlie "Bird" Parker was not even 35 years old, but his influence as one of the greatest musicians of the past century and co-inventor of bebop is immense. When the saxophonist and composer's 100th birthday came around in 2020, the international jazz world was ready with numerous and varied tributes, despite Covid restrictions, and the WDR Big Band and its longtime principal conductor Michael Abene also performed a worthy program at the Philharmonie in Cologne just a week after Parker's birthday, which was re-recorded in the studio for this album
At the center of the music, transformed with great virtuosity and Abene's own profundity into the sound world of a big band, should be two alto saxophonists soloist: the WDR lead alto Johan Hörlén and his colleague Luigi Grasso from the NDR Bigband. Bebop, jazz and big band sounds find each other on "Birth Of A Bird" in an exciting new way, elegant, harmonious or surprising, but always in the Charlie Parker spirit. It remains: Only the best live forever!