Track Listing

1. Bloomdido
2. Oscar for Treadwell [Alternate Take]
3. Oscar for Treadwell
4. Mohawk [Alternate Take]
5. Mohawk
6. My Melancholy Baby [Alternate Take][#]
7. My Melancholy Baby
8. Leap Frog [Alternate Take][#]
9. Leap Frog [Alternate Take]
10. Leap Frog [Alternate Take][#]
11. Leap Frog
12. Relaxin' with Lee [Alternate Take]
13. Relaxin' with Lee

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #95989 in Music
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Bird, Diz, Monk, Curly, and WHO?!
This could have been a truly significant recording of three of the great modernists, Bird, Dizzy and Monk, if Norman Granz had been in his right mind and included Max Roach or Roy Haynes on drums, instead of Buddy Rich. Rich's jejune drumming, consisting of one inconsequential rim shot after another, and Cozy Cole imitations in his solo breaks, really drags down the proceedings. It's as if a funereal pall had been cast over what should have been a joyful reunion.

Having said this, there are nevertheless some high points on the CD. "Bloomdido" and "Mohawk" are wonderful pieces, and they were original to the session. Each member of the "holy trinity" plays well. But especially startling is the presence of Monk, who never recorded with Bird (except for an excerpt preserved by Dean Benedetti) or Dizzy. His solos are true gems, and he manages to disengage from Rich in his own special way, by playing around, under, and through the sub-standard rhythmic accompaniment (Bud Powell escaped Rich on "Tea for Two" on Verve, now Polygram, by outpacing him). What is also captivating about the session is hearing Monk back up Gillespie. Gillespie is truly challenged by Monk's harmonic ideas and comes up with some remarkable angular lines; the two revolve in an other-worldly orbit that is musically fascinating.

So, all told, even with Rich's drag on the proceedings, I give this set five stars. It's the only time you'll hear these three play together. I once imagined that, as with the Clint Eastwood techniques used for the movie "Bird," one could digitize Rich's drumming OUT of the recording, but I don't think that would solve the problem. Bird, Dizzy and Monk were trying to compensate for the sluggish back-up, so it just wouldn't have that lively bop syncopation even if you digitized IN a drummer who understood the genre. On the other hand, wouldn't it be interesting to ask Max to give it a shot, though not a rim shot?!

A Classic
This is one of those recordings that just makes you feel so good and so happy. The players are dazzling, stoked and hot. Oh how they swing My Melancholy Baby. If I ever learn more about drumming I might find fault with Buddy Rich but I'm pretty happy with the whole production here and it sure sounds like Bird and Diz are having a great time. Thelonius Monk is more subdued and easier to listen to than usual while contributing more subtle and humorous discords than in future recordings. Do you really need encouragement?

Good (depending on your needs)
A strong set by Bird & Diz, but the real reason to buy this CD (versus better ones by either of these artists) is that Buddy Rich is the featured drummer. It's nice to hear Buddy hang back for a change, although his occasional solo breaks are the usual blistering affair. Not for the manic depressive.