This disc captures the final collaboration of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie in 1950 (aside from the Quintet's Jazz at Massey Hall from 1953). The original vinyl was a brisk 10-inch recording released in 1952 that misleadingly included two later tracks, neither of which feature Gillespie. Reissues would remove that those tracks and replace them with tons of alternate takes (of all tracks except "Bloomdido"). In fact, there are more alternate takes than original tracks, and the reissue that I have isn't even the most extensive. The backing band is top notch and often threatens to steal the thunder of the stars: Buddy Rich on drums and Thelonious Monk on the keys in particular.
If you enjoy the pioneering beboppers, make sure to invest in Charlie Parker's collected recordings for the Savoy and Dial labels, which capture him (and frequently Gillespie as well) in his prime. This one's good, but a little spare on material.
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