Charlie Christian Live Sessions at Minton's Playhouse (1941)

If there is such a thing as a Holy Grail of bebop, this disc is it. While the sound quality may be lacking (Thelonious Monk is virtually inaudible on piano), Christian's guitar experiments are sublime. This disc is indispensable as an essential document in jazz history, and this French import release boasts cleaner sound than most.

Tim Sheridan

Recorded live at Minton's Playhouse, NYC ; May 1941
Personnel
[#1, 2, 7 & 8]
Joe Guy - tp Thelonious Monk - p Charlie Christian - g Nick Fenton - b Kenny Clarke - dr
[#3]
Unknow - tp Don Byas - ts Charlie Christian - g Nick Fenton - b Kenny Clarke - dr
[#4-6]
Dizzy Gillespie - tp Don Byas & another - ts Kenny Kersey or unknow - p Nick Fenton - b Kenny Clarke - dr

Tracks
1 . Swing to Bop (Christian) 8:55
2 . Stompin' at the Savoy (Goodman, Razaf, Sampson, Webb) 8:14
3 . Up on Teddy's Hill (Christian) 6:08
4 . Stardust (Carmichael, Parish) 6:15
5 . Kerouac (Fox, Newman) 7:34
6 . Stardust (Carmichael, Parish) 3:24
7 . Guy's Got to Go (Traditional) 2:25
8 . Lips Flips (Public Domain) 4:56

flac, with complete Lp's artwork

PW = "melanchthon"

Thanks to Melanchthon