Bird Is Free is an album by Charlie Parker that documents a concert given at Rockland Palace, New York City, on 26 September 1952. In 1997, Jazz Classics released a more complete documentation of the concert with improved recording quality, Live at Rockland Palace.
Reception
The DownBeat reviewer, Leonard Feather, identified limitations of the audio quality, and added: "When Parker begins to play, however, you will forget all about distractions. ... There is brilliant, boiling, poetic Bird in a variety of attitudes here." The AllMusic review concluded: "Throughout, Parker plays with inimitable style and good humor and his quartet, featuring the great drummer Max Roach, swings effortlessly".
Track listing Side 1 Rocker (Gerry Mulligan) Sly Mongoose (Jamaican trad.) Moose the Mooche (Parker) Star Eyes (Gene de Paul, Don Raye)
Side 2 This Time the Dream's on Me (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) Cool Blues (Parker) My Little Suede Shoes (Parker) Lester Leaps In (Lester Young) Laura (Raksin, Mercer)
Personnel Charlie Parker – alto sax Mundell Lowe – guitar Walter Bishop, Jr. – piano Teddy Kotick – bass Max Roach – drums unidentified strings on "Rocker" and "Laura"
See also English translation of German Wikipedia Bird Is Free article with many details
References
External links Bird Is Free at jazzdisco.org