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Rating:
LA RECENSIONE
Closely connected to Charlie Parker due to the recordings he made of his concerts is Dino ‘DEAN’ BENEDETTI, an Italian-American saxophonist captivated by be-bop with a dissolute life very similar to that of his idol. We owe to him and his portable recorder the documented knowledge (1947-48) of Parker's fiery sessions that, otherwise, would probably have been lost. He began recording him in Los Angeles and ended up following him to New York in the clubs of 52nd Street: a significant amount of material kept by Dean's brother, Rick, which was later published many years later ('90) in a box set by Mosaic Records. Often they are 'snippets' of concert, Parker's solos that do not reach 3/4 minutes. The pieces are the classics of the period. Benedetti had a short life and died at only 34 years old in Italy in Torre del Lago (LU), the hometown of his parents where he is buried. There's also a book titled 'Bendetti da Parker' written by Agostinelli that well portrays the jazz-paced life of this important figure. (Note: originally the box set consisted of a whopping 10 vinyls at an exorbitant price or 7 more affordable CDs).
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Summary by Bot
This review highlights the invaluable recordings of Charlie Parker made by Dean Benedetti during 1947-48. Benedetti’s dedication preserved many iconic bebop solos performed on 52nd Street, now available through a Mosaic Records box set. Despite the fragmented nature of the recordings, they offer important insight into Parker’s fiery style and bebop’s golden era. The review also touches on Benedetti’s tragic life and legacy in jazz history.
