Hi-Res Downloads

96Hz/24-bit, FLAC; Impulse! Records 5744167 (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

Fifty minutes of Charlie Parker’s hard bop could induce trepidation in some listeners, but that’s not what this intriguing collection is all about. Instead of Parker retreads or outtakes, it’s an assortment of all-star reinterpretations of Bird’s compositions, some of them superbly soulful and engaging (Madeleine Peyroux’s opener, for example) and others requiring true-believer enthusiasm for bebop (Barbara Hannigan’s ‘Epitaph Of Charlie Parker’, Jeffrey Wright’s ‘So Long’). The band features veterans from David Bowie’s Blackstar, with Craig Taborn on keyboards and musicianship is beyond reproach, as is the recording quality. This album will grab your attention – listen to it once, then maybe via the ‘random play’ function on your player. Despite its ambitious concept and sonic excellence, repeated end-to-end playings would be tough duty. BW

Sound Quality: 80%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

Recorded at seven different studios, but mixed at ’62 Studios, Texas, the high noise suggests this was an analogue process with 96kHz mastering. Tracks 6 and 11 were mixed at another studio and have ~20dB lower noise [black trace]. PM