Charlie Parker and Coleman Hawkins play together (with Ray Brown and Buddy Rich)

By Jack Brummet, Jazz Ed.

Two favorites performing together. . .with Ray Brown (whom I got to see just once; Bird died when I was two years old, and Hawkins died just a few years before I got into jazz).  Not quite so sure about Buddy Rich—I'm not a fan of his over the top drum attacks or his notorious treatment of young band members on the road.  Check out his rants here: http://youtu.be/omID1prJHFo).

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Jazz Superstars on film

This is a pretty cool video...starting off with Bird watching Coleman Hawkins play and then Coleman watching Bird play. This is followed by various other luminaries like Ray Brown, Lester Young, Ella Fitzgerald, and Phil Harris dropping in and out, and ending with the whole band and Ella taking a couple of choruses to scat sing. I have to admit, also, that Phil Harris's trombone is spectacular...

Here is the rough rundown of who appears when and with whom:

Charlie Parker - Saxophone
Coleman Hawkins - Tenor saxophone
Hank Jones - Piano
Ray Brown - Double bass
Buddy Rich - Drums
Bill Harris - Trombone
Lester Young - Tenor saxophone
Harry Edison - Trumpet
Flip Phillips - Tenor saxophone
Ella Fitzgerald - Vocals, Scatting

The Lineup(s):

0:18 - Coleman Hawkins,
Hank Jones, Ray Brown, and Buddy Rich.

2:53 - Charlie Parker,
Hank Jones, Ray Brown, and Buddy Rich.

5:15 - Hank Jones,
Ray Brown, and Buddy Rich.

7:12 - Bill Harris, Lester Young,
Hank Jones, Ray Brown, and Buddy Rich.

10:43 - Flip Philips, Harry Edison,
Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Harris, Lester Young,
Hank Jones, Ray Brown, and Buddy Rich.

14:56 - The End
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