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In the fine box set Bird: Complete
on Verve there are seven takes of “In
the Still of the Night” from a 1953 session
by alto saxophonist Charlie Parker. Gil
Evans’ arrangement gives plenty of solo
space for Parker to stretch out, although
the vocal by the Dave Lambert Singers seems
out-of-place and superfluous. In listening
to the seven takes in order (Parker is on
five), one can get a sense of how a great
recording comes together.
The saxophone became the premier woodwind
instrument of bebop and later styles of
jazz, leaving the clarinet behind as few
clarinetists could make the instrument sound
as flowing as the saxophone within the newer
music. Buddy DeFranco started out as a
Benny Goodman disciple and then embraced
the sounds of bebop, successfully working
within the milieu. His 1956 recording for
Verve of Broadway show tunes includes a
number of standards and a fine “In the Still
of the Night.” Sadly the album has not been
reissued on CD.
Chris Tyle - Jazz Musician and Historian
Buddy DeFranco
Broadway Showcase
Verve MGV2033
(LP, out-of-print)
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