eShop USA > Music > Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945
Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0026198275129
Label: Uptown Jazz
Manufacturer: Uptown Jazz
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Uptown Jazz
Release Date: June 21, 2005
Studio: Uptown Jazz
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Editorial Review:
Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker first became aware of each other in 1940 when the former was playing in Cab Calloway's band and the latter with Jay McShann. Two years later they were both living in New York City and a real friendship developed. By 1945 they were recording and gigging together, culminating in this Town Hall concert on June 22, 1945. These recordings languished for sixty years as acetates that weren't even known to exist in their entirety. That this set captures these two formidable players in their ascendancy and with such clarity is a staggering find. Here, with host Symphony Sid announcing the songs (this would have been for his radio show, but apparently never ended up in his possessions), an important chapter in American music is now restored. By the end of the summer of '45 Gillespie and Parker went their separate ways, both emerging with their own bands and reaching new heights of commercial success. --David Greenberger
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - You'll like it trust me.
As a collector I feel lucky and grateful that these recordings are being made available. It could've been another 25 to 50 years or more before this was found but now it's right here in my hands! I just want to listen to these Town Hall recordings over and over! I hear something different every time. The sound quality is better than a lot of the the recordings that Bird and Dizzy did in the studio. It's amazing to hear these
compositions being played live during the time that the music was ... Read More
Rating: - Where have you been??
According to jazz gospel, jazz's Anno Domini is November 1945, when Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie cut several sides including the incredible "Ko Ko". Before then, there was a recording ban that prevented the innovations of the Bebop musicians from being heard. (True, there were some Dizzy Gillespie-led sessions including Salt Peanuts, but they sold so badly that they don't count).
In this version of events, jazz music was totally turned on its head, and the New Testament ... Read More
Rating: - Dizzy Atmosphere
Just when the listener thinks that Be Bop has been worn out and has little else to offer, we are presented with lost recordings that, once again, show what all of the fuss was about. This is Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie at the top of their game, giving a seminar on flatted fifths and fast playing.
Rating:  - Don't Overlook This Underrated Gem!
The Gillespie-Parker Town Hall CD is easy to overlook next to Monk-Parker--but that would be a loss. For one thing, the listener to this CD is privy to on-going commentary and intros by legendary jazz and beebop deejay "Symphony Sid"--offering an inside peek at the birth of some innovative tunes. Evidently Parker was (characteristically) late for the show: Sid had given lots of verbal patter to the eager crowd; Parker comes in the auditorium mid-way through the first number; the group doesn't skip a beat! ... Read More
Rating: - Diz and Bird at Town Hall June 22, 1945;
I read a rave review of "this masterpiece" record in The New Yorker. I was underwhelmed compared to that review.
However, these are good early beebop performances and the accompanying notes and copies of contemporary reviews support a better understanding of what's going on. In particular, there are some very interesting comments re perceptions of what was going on that day at Town Hall in Leonard Feather's July 1945 Metronome review, which is reproduced.
There are three Gillespie classics: ... Read More
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