The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever

AMG Review of The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Reissued many times but well worth acquiring in one form or another, the music on this double LP features the famous Massey Hall concert, which teamed together (for the last time on records) the unbeatable team of Charlie Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie along with pianist Bud Powell, bassist Charles Mingus, and drummer Max Roach. The full quintet performs six of its standards; listen to Bird burn on "Salt Peanuts" as a reaction to Gillespie's clowning. The second half of this set supposedly features the same rhythm trio, but four of the ten numbers actually date from four months later and find Bud Powell interacting with bassist George Duvivier and drummer Art Taylor! In any case, this is timeless and highly recommended music.