Wiki
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Release Date
1 January 1953
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Length
6 tracks
Frequently cited as one of the finest live jazz recordings ever released, this album documents a 15 May 1953 performance (organized by the Toronto New Jazz Society) of several of the year's reigning Down Beat poll winners: Charlie Parker on alto sax (playing a plastic Grafton horn as Parker had pawned his usual instrument earlier in the day), Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, Bud Powell on piano, Charles Mingus on bass and Max Roach on drums. This concert marked the only time these five musicians recorded together and the last known recorded collaboration of Parker and Gillespie.
The concert was recorded by members of the TNJS and was originally released on the Mingus-owned Debut Records label. The Debut release included bass parts overdubbed by Mingus as he was unsatisfied with the balance of the original recording. The material has since been released by various labels in a variety of forms, usually with the overdubs included. A 2004 release, "Complete Jazz at Massey Hall," does not include the overdubs.
Tracks 7-12 here represent most of the opening trio set featuring Powell, Mingus and Roach. Tracks 1-6 feature the full quintet.
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