Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie Parker: Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945 – Uptown Records Flashback Series UPCD27.51, 40:46, *****:
If I could rate this album any higher I would! Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie Parker together at Town Hall in NYC – what a concert to be able to attend! Additional jazz greats on this CD are; Don Byas, Al Haig, Curley Russell, Max Roach, and famous Town Hall MC, Symphony Sid Torin.
The freshness of Salt Peanuts and Hot House is amazing, taking into consideration that the band members had only played together a few times before this recording took place. Charlie Parker was his usual late self for this show and the nervousness in Torin’s voice is highly evident when introducing the band, even pronouncing Dizzy’s last name “Jillespie.”
An extensive 31 page photo and liner note booklet tells the rich history of jazz in these artists, how they got ended up together this night and how masterpieces like this are starting to pop up out of the dusty closets and basements around the country.
The incredible set list includes, Bebop, A Night in Tunisia, Groovin’ High, Salt Peanuts, Hot House, and Fifty Second Street Theme. It’s 41 minutes well spent to give this album a spin or four. [Decent job of audio restoration too…Ed.]