A whole crew of gifted jazz players came out of bebop’s formative years in New York City. In addition to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, jam sessions in basements, backrooms, and tiny apartments, and later in New York clubs such as the Downbeat and Spotlite, included these players among others:
- Tadd Dameron (1917-1965). A pianist and composer, Dameron wrote several famous bebop tunes including “Hot House,” and he played fine, fleet bebop on several albums from the 1950s and early 1960s. Two of them were for Riverside, available as Fats Navarro and Tadd Dameron Orchestra (Milestone).
- Barney Kessel (born 1923). A leading cool, swing and bebop guitar man, Kessel recorded (and jammed after-hours) with parker in Los Angeles in 1947. He also played alongside Parker at producer Norman Granz’s legendary Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts. Catch Kessel on Complete Charlie Parker on Dial (Jazz Classics).
Kessel went on to make electric music of his own, often with bop leanings. Some of Kessel’s best music as a leader is on To Swing Or Not To Swing (Jazz Classic). - Howard McGhee (1918-1987). For hot all-star bop, you cant beat Maggie: The Savoy Sessions (Savoy). By 1960, McGhee could still deliver the goods, as you can hear on the 1960 Maggie’s Back in Town (Original Jazz Classic).
- Fats Navarro (1923-1950). A young bop trumpeter inspired by both Parker and Gillespie, Navarro died at 34, but he had already recorded more than 150 songs! Many with other groups other than his own. Among his personal bests are Nostalgia (Savoy) and the two-CD Complete Blue Note and Capital Recordings of Fats Navarro and Tadd Dameron (Blue Note).
- Oscar Pettirford (1922-1960). Pettiford ranks among the top three innovators on bass, coaxing an array of sounds from his instrument with both Pizzicato (Plucked) and Arco (Bowed) techniques. Good examples of his gift are on Oscar Pettiford Sextet (Discovery).
- Bud Powell (1924-1966). Among modern pianists, Powell comes closest to Parker’s improvised melodies. A true giant whose creativity was cut short by personal problems, Powell still made some of bebop’s most innovative recordings. Get The Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 1 & 2 (Blue Note) and Bud Plays Bird (Roost).
- Sonny Stitt (1924-1982). In the shadow of Bird, Stitt is a favorite of many, under appreciated bebop saxophonist. His improvisations sparkle with freshness and energy, and his technique is flawless. Grab on to Kaleidoscope (Original Jazz Classics), you will never forget it!
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