Jazz At Massey Hall - Charlie Chan (5) (1959) (1LP Vinyl) - Near Mint (NM)

Jazz At Massey Hall by Charlie Chan (5).

Few concert recordings carry the mythic weight of the music captured here. On May 15, 1953, in Toronto, a summit of bebop's finest voices took the stage, and the results have echoed through jazz history ever since. "Jazz At Massey Hall" preserves that evening, with Charlie Chan (5) on alto saxophone leading a front line alongside Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, backed by a rhythm section of extraordinary depth.

That rhythm section reads like a wish list. Bud Powell sits at the piano, his harmonic imagination shaping every turn; Charles Mingus anchors the proceedings on bass; and Max Roach drives it all from the drums with the crisp, propulsive attack that made him one of the architects of modern jazz. Together they form a foundation both muscular and nimble, giving the horns room to soar.

The program is a tour through the bebop canon. Side A opens with the sly, riff-driven swing of "Perdido," followed by the exuberant fireworks of "Salt Peanuts" and the lyrical warmth of "All The Things You Are." Side B keeps the intensity high with "Wee," the sleek angularity of "Hot House," and finally the smoldering exotic pulse of "A Night In Tunisia," a piece that has become inseparable from this era of the music.

There is a special place in the story of these recordings for their reception abroad. The EP edition of this material was chosen by the Danish Jazz Academy, Den Danske Jazzkreds, as one of the two best series of jazz recordings published in Denmark during 1957. That recognition speaks to the international reach of the performance and its enduring appeal well beyond the room in which it was made.

The physical object carries its own quiet artistry. Cover work by Jens Nordsø gives the release its visual identity, while liner notes from Erik Wiedemann offer the kind of thoughtful commentary that rewards repeated reading. These touches place the record firmly within a tradition of jazz issues treated with real care, meant to be studied as much as heard.

For collectors and listeners alike, this is a chance to hold a piece of one of the most celebrated concerts in the history of the genre. The interplay between these players, the fearless tempos, and the sheer joy of invention make it an essential document. Drop the needle and step into Massey Hall on that spring night in 1953, when a handful of musicians turned a single evening into legend.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Perdido
A2. Salt Peanuts
A3. All The Things You Are
B1. Wee
B2. Hot House
B3. A Night In Tunisia

Credits:
Charlie Chan (5) - Alto Saxophone
Charles Mingus - Bass
Jens Nordsø - Cover
Max Roach - Drums
Erik Wiedemann - Liner Notes
Bud Powell - Piano
Dizzy Gillespie - Trumpet

Notes:
Recorded in concert in Toronto, May 15; 1953

The EP-Edition of these recordings were selected by the Danish Jazz Academy (Den Danske Jazzkreds) as one of the two best series of jazz recordings published in Denmark during 1957.

Artist: Charlie Chan (5)

Supporting Artists: Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Max Roach, Charles Mingus

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Debut Records (3)

Catalog Number: DEB 124

Release Year: 1959

Country: Germany

Condition: Used

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM)

Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)