OK, I have to just say how incredible this mornings “Bird Flight” was. Particularly a group of 4 back to back renditions of Night In Tunisia. It’s not a long story, so I’ll tell it quickly…
Many moons ago, about 27 years to be exact, I had a really kick-ass stereo (actually the one I have now isn’t so bad either). In fact I had people tell me they could hear it 2 city blocks away when I had the windows open and the wind was blowing in the right direction. But of course I attribute any hearing loss I may have from working around Jets for a few years. But, as usual, I digress, back on point please-
Anyway, often times I would come home at 2 or 3 in the morning, after a long shift of cosmic exploration, and I’d listen to a radio show called “The Transfigured Night” which showcased avant garde and minimalist music of the late seventies. Stuff like The Red Crayola, Shox Lumania, Steve Reich, Brian Eno, you get the picture. After that show was over, the next show was called “Daybreak Express” and was very upbeat Jazz which was a great way to watch the sun come up.
And after that show was Bird Flight. Hosted by the venerable Phil Schaap, the always verbose and usually anecdotal Jazz historian. Phil is not just spinning records, he spends probably close to 50% if not more of each show presenting the story behind the music, often from his personal experience with many of the late masters.
But of course Bird Flight is dedicated to one musician in particular, Charlie Parker. By now you may be wondering, how can this guy have a radio program for over 30 years playing the music of just one artist? Well I can’t answer that, you have to listen to understand. You will learn not just of Charlie Parkers music, but about Dizzie Gillespie, Lester Young, Earl Hines, and many many other legendary, and also some unknown artists, and how they shaped the future of the art form known as be-bop.
This year, Phil is doing a chronlogical history of every known Charlie Parker recording. He started in March and is only up to summer of 1946 so far, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this continues through to the holidays.
I could go on and on about Phil, but best to leave the accolades it to a professional writer, so look at this piece, a very good celebration of Phil and his contribution to the music world… Phil Schapp Article
If you are in the tri-state area you can catch Bird Flight on WKCR, the staion of Columbia University at 89.9 on the FM dial. And thankfully you can also listen to show over their stream at WKCR’s website but it’s not archived, it’s only vailable live, so tune in every weekday morning from 8:20 and hopefully, you’ll hear something you like, something that will make you come back and listen again and again, maybe even for 27 years…
So all this was just my very roundabout way of saying, holy shit, the pieces he played this morning were absolutely rocking my world! I’ve quite an extensive music collection, maybe 3 or 4 thousand albums worth of music, spanning practically all genres and decades, and nothing lifts my spirits or gets me in a good mood like an exceptional rendition of Night In Tunisia or Ornithology. Those pieces have the power to change my whole being at the particular moment I listen to them, and the amazing thing is that they retain that power even after I’ve heard them a hundred times or more. So come to think of it, I do understand how he’s been playing the same artist every day for 30 years. And I’m glad he’s still doing it, I hope he never stops.
Do yourself a favor and give it a listen. Bird Flight- 89.9 FM in NYC or at WKCR weekday mornings at 8:20 until around 9:50
It has changed the way I think about and listen to music forever.
