Search - Supersax :: Stone Bird

Stone BIrd Supersax certainly lives up to its reputation..

Dan Bunch | Pasco, Wa United States | 12/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Take 5 of the finest studio saxaphone giants today, transcribe Charlie Parker solos set them to 5 part harmony. Stand back turn up the volume, prepare to be amazed by therse virtuoso's. I hate to think of the time these cats took to "Woodshed" these pieces!
They're that tight. Wonderful stuff is the best discription possible here."

One of the Greats

Adrian W. Drummond | Shawnee, Kansas USA | 11/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Actor and musician Med Flory formed Supersax in 1972, and won a Grammy for their first album in 1973. Since the beginning Flory, Morgan, Migliori, Nimitz, and Candoli have all remained unchanged in their position and enthusiasm for the group. As suggested by the albums name, the group does not play entirely original songs, but rather re-harmonized Charlie Parker (AKA "Bird") improvisations, for the five saxes. The album was released in 1988 with good timing, being briefly after the release of "Bird", a movie directed by Clint Eastwood, which recreated much of the story behind Charlie Parker's life.

The groups talent can be immediately seen with the opening classic "Scrapple from the Apple". The song begins fast paced in popular song form each part being 6 measures in 4/4. Much of the song is left open for trumpet and piano solos, which prove to be exciting as well as extremely impressive as far as speed, timing, and precision go. The second track, "If I Should Lose You", is much shorter and slower paced, seeming more like a segue to the third track. It is a smooth toe tapping break from the fast moving opener, which helps to warm the listener up to the album. This is a great lead into the next well known classic "Salt Peanuts". This track really sets the mood for the album, with every instrument prominent throughout most of the fast tempo song. Near the end of the song are a few short gaps for drum solos that leave you wanting more. Track 4 "Lover Man", again slows significantly, but rather than seeming like a segue, like track 2, really sets a relaxed atmosphere, making you feel as though you are at a fancy dinner party feasting with some good friends and listening to some truly great music. "Au Privave" is next with its incredibly tight and precise sax solos, classic walking bass line, and smooth trumpet solos. The piano improvisation proves to be quite impressive throughout this track by never pushing through too much, but by no means ever showing too little. It stays perfectly behind the other instruments through most of this track, while still showing great skill in timing and staying right there with the other musicians. "Kim" opens throwing you straight into a very fast walking bass line, cymbals and hi hats galore, and an impressively fast paced sax section. This soon leads to one of the best piano solos on the album, directly followed by a terrific trumpet solo. The impressive drum solo near the end of this track picks up right were "Salt Peanuts" was leaving you wanting more. The next song, "K.C. Blues", is a great take on the blues form really putting you right in the middle of the Kansas City blues scene. Being such a smooth and toe tapping song, leaning back in a chair and just listening to this track is a great way to do so. It is also another great song you can throw in just as background or atmospheric music as well. "Confirmation" is a great track if your wanting to listen to something that isn't too slow or like the faster tracks on this album, and it seems to sit perfectly in between the two. It's a great track if you just want to get a feel for every musician and their instrument, especially the trumpet and bass. This song has one of very few bass solos on the album, and it really shows the true talent of the bassist. "Moose the Mooch" is the last track of the album and great one to end on. This is another that starts in popular song form, each part being 8 measures in 4/4. The level of skill the saxes show in this song is extremely impressive. The best trumpet solo on the album is on this track, and another great drum solo follows it.

Needless to say, the levels of skill that these musicians possess are extremely impressive and with the help of terrific sound engineering, it is equally as pleasant to listen to. Supersax has taken some truly great Bird classics and transformed them into something of their own, while still keeping Parker as the main focus. Any fan of Charlie Parker, the musicians involved, or just jazz in general, should pick this album up."