THE QUINTET
Jazz At Massey Hall (Debut)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Thousands of words have been written about the event that took place at Toronto's Massey Hall on May 15, 1953, but the most concise, and probably most accurate, are those that describe it as the "greatest jazz concert ever." That was the evening that an all-star band of bebop pioneers wrote the definitive, if not final, chapter of the genre's early evolution.

All-star? Here's the lineup: Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet; Charlie Parker, alto sax; Bud Powell, piano; Charles Mingus, bass; Max Roach, drums. There's not much to add. Five of the greatest names in jazz, pushing one another to peak performances at a time when they were at their peak powers. The greatest jazz concert ever.

Of course, serious jazz fans already have this one on the shelf, possibly in multiple formats. So why again? Well, the folks at Fantasy (who hold the rights to the Debut catalog) have remastered the album with their 20-bit digital K2 interface, and the music sounds better than ever. This release features the master tapes that Mingus (co-owner of Debut with Max Roach and producer of the original release) enhanced with bass overdubs, and it's a wise choice. The technological limitations of the original recording lost some of Mingus' particular genius and this is the version that deserves to be heard and remembered. Trust me, if you hear it, you'll remember it. Jazz At Massey Hall is one of those few albums which are genuinely essential, and this is the essential release.

Track List:

Perdido * Salt Peanuts * All The Things You Are/52nd Street Theme * Wee (Allen's Alley) * Hot House * A Night In Tunisia

© 2002 - Shaun Dale