Strange thing about Bird, in his solos he moves so far away that you think he won't make it back for the next chord change. I'm on the edge of my seat saying, "he won't make it, he won't make it!" But invariably he does and I breathe a sigh of relief. Bird lives!
I'll be so glad when the tides change in smooth jazz today, and the sax sounds warm and smooth like this again, instead of the screeching, wailing and incessant high pitches that annoy me so much on smooth jazz radio...
2:24 the most underrated thing about Bird is how he played/improvised counterpoint. Check it. On any record if he's playing underneath someone leading the melody, he plays the most astounding, balanced, and complimentary phrases.
Bird is just bursting with ideas and energy-- Listen to all the stuff he plays behind Miles' solo! Brimming with Life and Love! This was recorded shortly after his release from Camarillo-- He was cleaned up and in absolute top form.. In my opinion, some of his best work was from these '47 sessions...