js Although the complete Charlie Parker Dial sessions are now available in one CD box set, originally they were sold in separate volumes in vinyl form. Volume 6 caught my attention because not only does it feature Bird at his peak, but it also features a very young Miles Davis getting his start as a be-bopper. The salient feature of the Dial retrospective releases is that they contain not only the official released track, but also that track’s unreleased out-takes and alternate versions. The end result is that you get two or three versions of every song which can be quite interesting. Since each tune tends to be fairly short, the existence of two or three takes in a row is not fatiguing at all.

These recordings were made in 1947 after Bird returned to NYC after some troubled times in California. The return to NY seemed to do him good as most jazz fans consider this period to be a peak in his career. Needless to say, Bird’s playing on here is outstanding as he gets a huge sound out of his alto that I have never heard anyone else duplicate. Although most of these tunes are a bit mellow by bop standards, Parker takes plenty of chances to show off the blinding speed he had developed. On the aptly named ‘Crazeology’ the band cranks up the bpm’s for that ‘crazy be-bop’ sound that many favor from Parker.

Although this record is certainly about Bird, its also very interesting to hear Miles interact with the bop world before he takes off on his own innovations. Throughout this record Miles seems sort of torn between supplying the requisite rapid fire bop licks or moving in a more personal direction. Some of the takes of ‘Crazeology’ show him at his most boppish and playing with the bright precision favored by the followers of Dizzy Gillespie. Elsewhere on the album, particularly on side one, you hear Miles experimenting with a softer tone, relaxed almost slurred phrasing and a feel for the beat that lingers just behind, sort of unheard of in the world of bop.

This is a great album, you get Parker at his peak plus a young Miles experimenting to find his own voice. All throughout the music is pure bop created at a time when that style was jazz. The end of bop was the end of a great time in jazz, and in many ways jazz never recovered the sort of wit and sophisticated intelligence presented here.