Leo Parker
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Leo Parker was the proud owner of a big, beefy baritone sax tone and a fluent technique that struck a great match between the gritty, down-home feeling of R&B and the advanced harmonies of bebop. At first, he studied alto in high school, even recording with Coleman Hawkins' early bebop band at age 18 on that instrument in 1944. But upon joining the legendary Billy Eckstine bop band in 1944-1945 and 1946, Parker switched to baritone and began to garner notice. He worked with Dizzy Gillespie's band on 52nd Street in 1946 and Illinois Jacquet's group in 1947-1948, and recorded with Fats Navarro, J.J. Johnson, Dexter Gordon, and Sir Charles Thompson; he scored a hit with Thompson, "Mad Lad," on the Apollo label. Parker seemed to be on his way, but drug problems -- an epidemic in the bop community -- kept interfering with his career, and he recorded only sporadically in the 1950s. In September and October 1961, Parker began a comeback on the Blue Note label with two lively albums that successfully combined his blues, gospel, and bop backgrounds. But only a few months later, a heart attack felled him at the age of 36. ~ Richard S. Ginell
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Legendary Bop, Rhythm & Blues Classics: Leo Parker (Digitally Remastered)
Rollin' with Leo
Let Me Tell You 'Bout It
Illinois Jacquet/Leo Parker
Let Me Tell You 'Bout It (Bonus Track Version)
The Last Sessions (Bonus Track Version)
Talkin' the Blues
Blue Leo
Glad Lad
Jumpin' Leo
Lion Roars
Who's Mad
The Lion's Roar
Mad Lad Returns
Home, Sweet Home by Illinois Jacquet
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Dub In)
Throw It Out of Your Mind Baby by Illinois Jacquet
Swinging for Love
Wee Dot
Music Hall Beat
Stuffy
Low Brown
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