Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 10/21/2003
The idea of an album that remixes the
Savoy output of
Charlie Parker may be horrifying for some, but before you join the purist mob take a gander at the names involved. Producer
Matthew Backer has picked quite a crew of tasteful mavericks to remix the saxophonist, and
Hal Willner's multiple appearances alone pay respect to the man who made tribute albums exciting.
Willner's
Whoops, I'm an Indian project turns
"Salt Peanuts" into a musical genre-hopping wild ride with
the Kronos Quartet providing the screechy edge and
Dr. John laying down some
boogie. It could have been a royal mess, but it isn't.
Dan the Automator bends the recordings with a smirk and
funk, but he's totally outdone by the
turntables of
the X-Ecutioners, who scratch right along with an especially hot
Parker solo.
Me'Shell NdegéOcello plays some deep, intuitive bass to a rather choppy
"Relaxin' at Camarillo," and
"All the Shadows of Nuff" finds
Garth Hudson's keyboards adding the needed lyrical touch to
Willner's quick juxtaposition of four separate
Parker tunes.
System of a Down's frontman,
Serj Tankian, provides the album's highlight, sounding like
Tom Waits and
Bono's love child on the eerie and yearning rave-up
"Bird of Paradise (Gone)." Naysayers should hear
RZA scatting along with
Bird,
El-P's trippy mix, or
Hubert Laws' expressive flute runs before dismissing the album entirely. Too many likeminded productions with their echoes and crackles make the album easier to take in small doses.
Bird Up at least captures the innovative spirit of
Charlie Parker, doesn't do any damage to the icon of hip, and makes for an exciting listen.
~David Jeffries, All Music Guide
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