This Savoy compilation features various recordings made by saxophonist
Charlie Parker during the mid- to late- '40s. Most die-hard bebop fanatics will have these tracks on other discs, but neophytes should find
Burnin' Bird useful. Included are such legendary recordings as "Koko," "Ornithology," and "Shaw 'Nuff" -- many of which feature other jazz icons like trumpeters
Dizzy Gillespie and
Miles Davis. While not definitive,
Burnin' Bird competes well with similar single-disc
Parker compilations. ~ Matt Collar