“Interesting” rather than great, despite the incredible lineup, rendition of the composition that introduced the chord structure Thelonious Monk used to create “Bright Mississippi”. Charlie Parker! Dizzy Gillespie! Lester Young! Yet, for my perhaps eccentric ears, it is pianist Mel Powell who turns in the best performance. The tempo is way up, which I think handicapped Lester a bit, while both Charlie and Dizzy seem a bit hung up between swing and bop. Powell, younger than either Parker or Gillespie, was firmly in the swing camp. Also featured are swing alto Willie Smith, tenor Charlie Ventura, and trumpeter Al Killian. Billie Hadnott on bass and Lee Young (Lester’s brother) on drums. Recorded in Los Angeles. The sound is surprisingly good. Posted by JGC History
