Recording history and tape provenance
The June 1950 session had Parker on alto saxophone, Gillespie on trumpet, Monk on piano, Curley Russell on bass and Buddy Rich on drums. The Parker originals include "Bloomdido," "Relaxin' with Lee" and "An Oscar for Treadwell." The one standard is "My Melancholy Baby."
"Passport" and "Visa" were recorded separately in 1949 by Parker without Gillespie. According to uDiscover Music, "Passport" features Kenny Dorham, Al Haig, Tommy Potter and Max Roach. "Visa" adds Tommy Turk on trombone and Carlos Vidal on bongos. Wikipedia dates the two sessions to March and May 1949.
Buddy Rich's place on the date has long been disputed, as JazzTimes covers. Rich came from swing, and some around the session thought him a poor fit for bebop. Curley Russell reportedly called his inclusion one of Granz's brainstorms.
A 1952 DownBeat article quoted Roy Haynes saying Granz had refused to let him record with Parker. Haynes said Parker would propose his own musicians and Granz would overrule him. GRAMMY.com reports the article, citing Parker biographer Carl Woideck.
Eleven takes of "Leap Frog" survive, seven of them false starts. They preserve studio talk between Parker and Gillespie as they worked the tune out.
Original Clef pressing (1952)
Sources disagree on the original label. Wikipedia names Clef, a Verve subsidiary. The Jazz Discography Project lists Mercury MGC-512 in 1952, reissued as Clef MGC-512 in 1954.
Clef MG C-512 is the 10" first US pressing, compiled from what had been 78rpm singles. Surface noise and fidelity reflect the 1949–1950 recordings on any copy. It is an essential historical document more than an audiophile record.
Verve reissues
Verve MG V-8006 is the 12" reissue in the "Genius of Charlie Parker" series, numbered #4. The spine reads "The Genius of Charlie Parker #4 – Bird and Diz," while the front cover and labels keep the original title. Early copies are on yellow Verve labels.
After 1960 the same number was repressed on black Verve "T" labels with a deep groove and MGM rim text. Its Discogs entry gives the side A runout as MGV-11766-Re-2 and the label matrices as V-8006.
According to uDiscover Music, Verve issued this reissue in 1957, after Parker's death. It left out "Passport" and "Mohawk" and added alternate takes of other tracks. It is not the complete original program.
The Verve Vital Vinyl reissue is currently in print, pressed in the Czech Republic with the original label and cover design. Its marketing describes original label, original tapes, original sound and design. No mastering engineer is named in retailer descriptions, so the tape source rests on the label's own description. Owner reviews describe quiet, flat vinyl and praise the laminated flip-back jacket.
A different album with the same name
Charlie Parker Records issued a 1983 LP also called Bird & Diz, catalogue CP 512. It compiles 1945 and later sides such as "Salt Peanuts," "Shaw Nuff" and "Hot House." It does not contain the 1949 and 1950 sessions on this album. Bellaphon issued the same compilation in Germany in 1988.
Buyer's guide by budget
$$: The Verve Vital Vinyl reissue. Accessible, well packaged and in print.
$$$: A Verve MG V-8006 12" reissue on yellow or later black deep-groove labels. It lacks "Passport" and "Mohawk."
$$$$: A clean Clef MG C-512 10" original. The first pressing and the only one with the original program, condition permitting.
Pressing tier summary
| Tier ⇅ | Pressing | Cat# | Year ⇅ | Format | Source / Mastering | Notes | Market ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Clef MG C-512 | MG C-512 | 1952 | Mono, 33⅓, 10" | Clef lacquer | First US pressing, compiled from 78rpm singles | $157VG+ $206NM $230M |
| B | Verve MGV-8006 (12" reissue) | MGV-8006 / MG V-8006 | 1957 | Mono, 33⅓, 12" | Verve lacquer | "Genius of Charlie Parker #4" on spine. Omits "Passport" and "Mohawk," adds alternate takes. Yellow labels | $102VG+ $133NM $149M |
| – | Verve MGV-8006, black "T" deep-groove repress | V-8006 | post-1960 | Mono, 33⅓, 12" | Verve lacquer, MGM rim text | Not rated. Same programme as the 1957 reissue | $43VG+ $56NM $63M |
| B | Verve Vital Vinyl series | – | – | Mono, 33⅓ | Original tapes per label description. No mastering engineer credited | Pressed in Czech Republic. Reproduces original label and cover design | – |
References
- Discogs (master, all versions): https://www.discogs.com/master/176947
- Wikipedia, "Bird and Diz": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_and_Diz
- uDiscover Music, "reDiscover Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie's 'Bird and Diz'": https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/rediscover-bird-and-diz/
- GRAMMY.com, "'Bird And Diz' At 70": https://www.grammy.com/news/bird-and-diz-album-jazz-bebop-70-anniversary-buddy-rich-thelonious-monk-historical-feature/
- JazzTimes, "Buddy Rich and the 'Bird and Diz' Album: The Controversy Continues": https://www.jazztimes.com/features/special-feature/buddy-rich-and-the-bird-and-diz-album-the-controversy-continues/
- All About Jazz, "Bird And Diz – Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie" (review by Chris May): https://www.allaboutjazz.com/bird-and-diz-charlie-parker-verve-music-group-review-by-chris-may