Consumer Guide Album

Charlie Parker: Yardbird Suite: The Ultimate Charlie Parker Collection [Rhino, 1996]
Because Dial was where he changed history most consistently, 14 of these 38 tracks are also on The Legendary Dial Masters. But despite the redundancy, both newcomers and fans will find his first cross-label, legit-plus-bootleg survey a gratifyingly listenable addition to his discography--two and a half hours free of outtakes, vocalists, Norman Granz, and the other dumb distractions his admirers contend with. His alto pervades every track. Even the live strings belong. A