LPでは13曲だったが、CD化でThe Complete Master Takesと副題が付き、一気に25曲となった。1947年12月から52年1月まで、パーカーとストリングスによる5つのセッションで構成。その中には、カーネギーホールでのライブも含まれる。
パーカーの瞬発力を堪能できるアルバムではないが、40年代から50年代に掛けてのジャズを知る上では貴重な音源だ。録音データに間違いがないかを確認するのに、時間を要したアルバムでもある。
1. Just Friends
2. Everything Happens To Me
3. April In Paris
4. Summertime
5. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
6. If I Should Lose You
7. Dancing In The Dark
8. Out Of Nowhere
9. Laura
10. East Of The Sun
11. They Can't Take That Away From Me
12. Easy To Love
13. I'm In The Mood For Love
14. I'll Remember April
15. What Is This Thing Called Love?
16. April In Paris
17. Repetition
18. Easy To Love
19. Rocker
20. Temptation
21. Lover
22. Autumn In New York
23. Stella By Starlight
24. Repetition [1947 Studio Version]
25. Laura [alternate take]
Charlie Parker - alto saxophone
Tracks 1 - 6
String Section
Stan Freeman - piano / Ray Brown - bass / Buddy Rich - drums
Jimmy Carroll - arranger, conductor
Recorded on November 30, 1949 at Reeves Sound Studios, NYC.
Tracks 7 - 14 & 25
String Section
Bernie Leighton - piano / Ray Brown - bass / Buddy Rich - drums
Joe Lippman - arranger, conductor
Recorded on July 5, 1950 at Reeves Sound Studios, NYC.
Tracks 15 - 19
Tommy Mace - oboe / Wallace McManus - harp
Sam Caplan, Stan Karpenia, Teddy Blume - violin
Dave Uchitel - viola / Bill Rundy - cello
Al Haig - piano / Tommy Potter - bass / Roy Haynes - drums
Recorded on September 16, 1950 at Carnegie Hall, NYC.
Tracks 20 - 23
String section & Big band
Lou Stein - piano / Art Ryerson - guitar / Bob Haggart - bass / Don Lamond - drums
Joe Lippman - arranger, conductor
Recorded on January 22, 1952 at First Ave. & East 44th St., NYC.
Track 24
Neal Hefti's Orchestra
Bill Harris - trombone / John LaPorta - clarinet
Flip Phillips - tenor saxophone / Manny Albam - baritone saxophone
Tony Aless - piano / Curly Russell - bass / Shelly Manne - drums
Neal Hefti - arranger, conductor
Recorded on December 1947 in NYC.
