Is any jazz playlist complete without the genius of Charlie Parker gracing it? This track, however, is a deliberate choice. It showcases the improvisational attributes of jazz featuring five of the greatest jazz musicians of the age. Their brilliance, at display in a rare concert, has given us a record of a lifetime.
When I first came across Salt Peanuts, I laughed, hard. People sitting around me in the college library were amused and annoyed, but I certainly did not care. I was sure that I had stumbled upon a musical treasure. The track is spontaneous and fun, yes. Charlie Parker was high as a kite; he had sold his saxophone for drug money before this concert. But there is something more in this track. It reeks of camaraderie: among equals in a trade, eager to create and please recipients of their creativity. It's obvious that the artists enjoyed performing. Man, I'd give anything to be able to watch this live for myself.
To Quintet was a one time band constituted by very gifted musicians. It'd be a disservice to the track if Bud Powell's piano solo goes unmentioned. Max Roach's drums solo too is an important and exciting part of the track which needs attention. As John Fordham calls it, the Quintet was a "bebop supergroup" whose concert has marked a milestone in the history of jazz music.
If you're nurturing your ambition to excellence this week (or any week), Salt Peanuts in your track.
You can learn more about Charlie Parker here:
You can learn more about Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie here:
About the curator - Aarushi Aggarwal
Aarushi is a senior at college and is majoring in history and international relations. Her music library is as much home to jazz as it is to Indian classical. Her passion for discovering new music far supersedes other equally important things like finishing assignments on time. She loves dogs, coffee and chocolate.
