Hugely desirable Charlie Parker with Strings record set from Mercury Records (C509), signed and inscribed on the inside front cover in bold blue ballpoint, “To Joe, Regards, Charlie Parker.” The set includes three 10-inch 78 RPM vinyl records containing the following songs: ‘Just Friends’ / ‘Everything Happens to Me’ (C-101), ‘East of the Sun’ / ‘You Came Along from Out of Nowhere’ (C-109), and ‘I'm in the Mood for Love’ / ‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me’ (C-109). The signed sleeve with cover design by David Stone Martin is an original issue of C-509, the second release from Bird's ‘with Strings’ sessions made for Norman Granz's labels between 1947 and 1952. These sessions with small string orchestra and rhythm sections were the realization of Parker's long-held dream to record with strings. They ultimately became the best-selling records of his lifetime. In very good to fine condition, with a crease/crack to the lower left corner of the cover.
Accompanied by a 2016 letter of provenance from renowned jazz collector Norman Saks: “This letter is to authenticate an autographed ‘Charlie Parker With Strings Vol 2.’ 78 RPM album, signed on the inside photo…The signed album is reproduced on page 22 of the book Charlie Parker & Jazz Club Memorabilia: The Norman R. Saks Collection by Ken Vail. It comes from my personal collection.”
Per jazz historians Richard Cook and Brian Morton: ‘There is still some pointless controversy as to the merits of Parker's with Strings projects. Pointless, because it is clear from a single chorus of 'Repetition' from 1947 or 'Stella by Starlight' in 1952 that there is a master at work here. Bird's solo construction is poised and tasteful, and much of the talk of his 'impatience' with these smooth settings is a sort of wishful thinking. He basked in them, and if on occasion he anticipates the beat, that's no more than he did with Al Haig or Thelonius Monk.’
This item is Pre-Certified by Real
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$150.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
