Charlie Parker had a complicated relationship with his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, due to both its history of racial segregation and his strong ties to his family and friends there. This set of rare recordings from 1941-1951—most previously unheard, some even unknown—chronicles Bird's evolution from a flourishing soloist with the Jay McShann Band to a brilliant improviser who dominated the jazz landscape for decades. In addition to two previously unreleased 78s with the McShann Band, this set includes two sets of private recordings (at Bird's friend Phil Baxter's home and at Vic Damon's studio) made with local musicians, and a very relaxed-sounding Parker, given the space to truly stretch out and show us the form of jazz that would follow in his wake.
