Avant-garde tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp created a stir in 1977 when he recorded a set of hymns and folk melodies in melodic duets with pianist Horace Parlan. On February 6, 1980, he reunited with Parlan for a set of blues associated with Bessie Smith, and the following day, as a sort of sequel, Shepp played eight songs associated with Charlie Parker in collaboration with bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen. Although never a bebopper, Shepp does surprisingly well on such tunes as "Moose the Mooche," "Ornithology," "Yardbird Suite" and "Confirmation," even if he makes the mistake of doubling on his erratic soprano during a few numbers. Archie Shepp pays tribute to Bird not by copying him, but by being creative and playing Parker’s repertoire in his own sound. Recommended. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
01. Moose the Mooche (Charlie Parker)
02. Embraceable You (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin)
03. Ornithology (Benny Harris/Charlie Parker)
04. Billi’s Bounce (Charlie Parker)
05. Yardbird Suite (Charlie Parker)
06. Blues for Alice (Charlie Parker)
07. How Deep Is the Ocean (Irving Berlin)
08. Confirmation (Charlie Parker)
ARCHIE SHEPP soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
NIELS HENNING ORSTED PEDERSEN bass
Recorded February 7, 1980
SteepleChase – SCCD 31149