Product Description A vigorous tribute to Charlie Parker. (Downbeat)<P> There are no Charlie Parker tunes on this album but each track is directly based on a Parker composition or solo. Historically, it has always been easy to state that Bird's work left an indelible and influential mark on modern music but to prove that fact has been an exciting endeavor. (Rudresh Mahanthappa) <P> I was blessed to first hear Charlie Parker's music when I was 12 years old. The album was Archetypes. Soon after, I picked up the Bird: Master Takes on Savoy and my world was forever changed. His sheer virtuosity and innovative vocabulary were obviously astounding but what moved and continues to inspire me is the joy, humor, and beauty that he portrays, evokes, and instills. It was Charlie Parker (Bird) who truly embedded the spark for me to make a life in music. I have never looked back since. <P> While jazz has continued to evolve as a global art, it is of utmost importance to examine its gravitational sources and forces. While Bird's music has been performed and recorded countless times, it is a higher order of magnitude to absorb his work and give new shape and meaning to his gifts. That is to say that imitating Parker is of no consequence to forwarding this form, but developing new perspectives upon tradition is the substance of contemporary expression. I firmly believe that Bird would have wanted his legacy to resonate in this fashion. There are no Charlie Parker tunes on this album but each track is directly based on a Parker composition or solo. Historically, it has always been "easy" to state that Bird's work left an indelible and influential mark on modern music but to prove that fact has been an exciting endeavor. When removed from its context, much of what Parker played or wrote is as modern as any current work in western music be it jazz, classical, rock, or pop. It has also been an immense pleasure for me to revisit my core roots that predate my concentration on bridging jazz and non-western music. This album is not a tribute to Charlie Parker. It is a blissful devotion to a man who made so much possible. Bird Calls on all of us to embrace the beauty of the world as it exists here and now.-<P>From the liner notes by Rudresh K. Mahanthappa Review Charlie Parker, the eternal bebop paragon, serves as a distinctly permissive muse on this volatile tribute, by one of his many heirs. Featuring a bladelike quintet with Mr. Mahanthappa on alto saxophone and the impressive young Adam O'Farrill on trumpet, it's a whirligig of brisk dynamism and bustling modernity. --The New York TimesAn itchy, ambitious, often molten mosaic of styles and cultures. --JazzTimesTo observe that Mahanthappa fused the incantatory phrase-making and exotic scales of Indian music with the free-wheeling improvisational spirit of American jazz would be an understatement. He's so thoroughly immersed in both worlds that he conjured up a startlingly original merger of the two. Howard Reich --Chicago Tribune
M**N
A BLISSFUL DEVOTION TO BIRD
Like the others Rudresh albums is the perfect combination of jazz with western music. In this case is a travel from India to Bird. You can fell the music of Charlie Parker but you hear something new, different , diverse approach to the magic ideas of Charlie Parker sound. This is the jazz, the real jazz of today. Like the last CD of Vijay Iver you discover new sounds, new combination..real jazz.The group is excellent. Adam O'Farrill, on trumpet (absolutely great), Matt Mitchell on piano, Francois Moutin o bass and Rudy Royston on drums. In all the CD you can hear something spiritual, something magic, the beauty of the world..excelent
P**D
The shape of jazz today.
Album is brilliantly conceived and performed. A contemporary evocation of Bird’s tune’s but also formidably original.
M**Y
Best new CD of 2015
Best new CD of 2015. The other reviewer is confused. This is not a Charlie Parker tribute. It's merely the artist using Bird as an inspiration for these tunes, And he does so magnificently. Great interplay with the trumpet player too. Adam OFarrill. Remember that name. He's like 20 I believe. I have several cds by Rudresh and when he played with his alter ego Vejay and all are GOOD to some degree or another. This cd takes his composing and playing to another level. He has grown! Fantastic cd. Highly rated!
D**D
I love Indian music and he sounds like Parker after he ...
Heard him at Iowa City Jazz Festival 2015. Blew my mind. I love Indian music and he sounds like Parker after he might have spent time in India. Certainly a very subtle sounding influence,many may not hear it. I love it. A revelation. Transports me like when I first heard 'Trane. Backup is phenomenal, hope to see them again.
D**D
Just like Ornette Colman and Eric Dolphy which took the bebop ...
Mr. Mahanthappa is one of the jazz artists that can look back and forward at the same time. Just like Ornette Colman and Eric Dolphy which took the bebop language and made it modern, now Mahanthappa is reinterpreting Bird including his own influences. My favorite release of 2015 so far!
H**R
Four Stars
Innovative musicianship by one of the finest jazzmen.
S**N
Inspiring!
Inspiring permutation on Bird's ideas which become Rudy's ideas!!!!
W**J
Four Stars
4 stars
A**A
One step back, two steps foreward motion ??
I am a fan of Mahathappa. Own and turn all recordings and follow him by visiting a concert when possible.Great memories of the concerts like with Bunky Green at NSJF, Golpanath and others in the BIM huis in Amsterdam etc..So, after the urge of the wait for the next release, I was thrilled to get my copy !So, threw it in the player and got to work in order to be lifted and filled again..but, then he was playing speedy licks as if he was practising and gave me no rest or chance to get in or breath out.. What was this then ? He goe3s a bit over the top and there is a trumpet playing in another mood and atmosphere.. As if connected to another kind of music.. So strange.. no real cohesion or interacting from the deeper inner thing that is so pure in Mahanthappa's case.. After a while and after nr. 6 of the CD, it landed a bit and I heard the reflections on other times.. The title fell in place; ah, " Bird calls " yeahyeah..... So, I read the text on the insideflap of the CD and read his words..Now I understand where is wanted to go and why he did this project, I hear him amnd I hear the band. But I am afraid to have to concludethat this search is not delivering a result that is equal to what he was searching for. Give me the Mahathappa from Mahanthappa and let bird and all those other fellow-saxplayers from the past just remain in the choir of sounds that are the free source where he is the following step of. No need to do this, Rudresh. But hey, I read all those comments here that are yelling from Joy, So maybe I am the one that misses something here.. So, wil turn it over a few times to get in a bit deeper, although, good chance that soon I will search for the older recordings and wait again in eager for the next.. first listening is for me the standard. Saw his appearance on the affiche of NSJF ( North Sea Jazz Festival) this year on Sunday, but prefer for once to choose for the Saturday with Roscoe Mitchell and Muhal Richard Adams.. I mean eh, when do we get another Chance ..??Mahanthappa is shurely to come with something next in his one step back- two steps foreward motion.. :)Ears wide open !
S**S
Another side to the contemporary saxophine giant.
Mahanthappa is open about the fact that this is not a Charlie Parker tribute album and it certainly doesn't sound like one. Mahanthappa demonstrates his usual agility on the instrument, very rhythmic, forceful and with a rounded robust tone. The Asian influence is still evident on Birdcalls, though not as much at the forefront as some of Mahanthappa's other work. Many of the pieces feature solo saxophone segues, particularly beautiful is #3, where Mahanthappa opens with a clean tone, then gradually introduces an increasing number of slightly distorted rougher notes, as the piece resolves towards the highlight of the album for me Tallin is Thinking, dedicated to Mahanthappa's son.As ever Mahanthappa has picked a band who are more than capable of matching his ferocity and articulation, Rudy Royston on drums is particularly noteworthy, although the band are given a chance to shine.This album is a must for fans of Mahanthappa and shows another side to his personality, there is less of a "fusion" feel than many of his earlier works yet it feels like a natural progression rather than a departure.
H**.
Pyromanes!
Un hommage à Parker sans la moindre mélodie du Bird, il fallait y penser! C'est qu'aprés avoir construit son éclosion discographique en croisant les éléments rythmiques et harmoniques de sa double culture indo-américaine, le 'disciple' Rudresh a choisi d'honorer le maître bien au delà des sempiternelles reprises bebopisantes maintes fois revisitées depuis 60 ans. Ici ce qui compte c'est l'esprit, le risque, l'urgence, la curiosité, l'enthousiasme, le lyrisme qui caractérisaient la musique de Parker et que Mahanthappa partage avec ses complices du jour. Et quel quintet incroyable d'interplay et de joie il a réunit! Cinq bonhommes (dont un minot de haute lignée à la trompette vers qui tous les regards se tournent et on comprend bien pourquoi: sans limite sur l'instrument, sans limite dans les idées..à tout juste 20ans!) prêts à jouer les pyromanes sur un répertoire éminemment original sur lequel plane bien sûr constamment la silhouette de l'oiseau. Bravo.
…**…
Bello, originale e ... TERRIFIC!
Al momento uno dei migliori album del 2015, in questo disco l'alto sassofonista di origine indiana, si ispira ad alcuni brani di Parker per creare atmosfere uniche ed affasciananti. Il quintetto di Mahanthappa oltre che da Royston (batteria) e Moutin (basso) ospita il pianista M. mitchell e il trombettista A. O'Farrill che contribuiscono in modo determinante alla strutturazione armonica e ritmica di ciascun brano. Disco veramente bello, non di semplice ascolto per chi si sta avvicinando alla musica jazz, ma sicuramente caricodi emozioni.DA AVERE!
M**L
Five Stars
Charlie Parker would have enjoyed the reworking of his original compositions. A first class cd.
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