There are no Charlie Parker tunes on this album but each track is directly based on a Parker composition or solo. Historically, it has always been easy to state that Bird's work left an indelible and influential mark on modern music but to prove that fact has been an exciting endeavor. (Rudresh Mahanthappa)
I was blessed to first hear Charlie Parker's music when I was 12 years old. The album was Archetypes. Soon after, I picked up the Bird: Master Takes on Savoy and my world was forever changed. His sheer virtuosity and innovative vocabulary were obviously astounding but what moved and continues to inspire me is the joy, humor, and beauty that he portrays, evokes, and instills. It was Charlie Parker (Bird) who truly embedded the spark for me to make a life in music. I have never looked back since.
While jazz has continued to evolve as a global art, it is of utmost importance to examine its gravitational sources and forces. While Bird's music has been performed and recorded countless times, it is a higher order of magnitude to absorb his work and give new shape and meaning to his gifts. That is to say that imitating Parker is of no consequence to forwarding this form, but developing new perspectives upon tradition is the substance of contemporary expression. I firmly believe that Bird would have wanted his legacy to resonate in this fashion. There are no Charlie Parker tunes on this album but each track is directly based on a Parker composition or solo. Historically, it has always been "easy" to state that Bird's work left an indelible and influential mark on modern music but to prove that fact has been an exciting endeavor. When removed from its context, much of what Parker played or wrote is as modern as any current work in western music be it jazz, classical, rock, or pop. It has also been an immense pleasure for me to revisit my core roots that predate my concentration on bridging jazz and non-western music. This album is not a tribute to Charlie Parker. It is a blissful devotion to a man who made so much possible. Bird Calls on all of us to embrace the beauty of the world as it exists here and now.-
From the liner notes by Rudresh K. Mahanthappa Review Charlie Parker, the eternal bebop paragon, serves as a distinctly permissive muse on this volatile tribute, by one of his many heirs. Featuring a bladelike quintet with Mr. Mahanthappa on alto saxophone and the impressive young Adam O'Farrill on trumpet, it's a whirligig of brisk dynamism and bustling modernity. --The New York TimesAn itchy, ambitious, often molten mosaic of styles and cultures. --JazzTimesTo observe that Mahanthappa fused the incantatory phrase-making and exotic scales of Indian music with the free-wheeling improvisational spirit of American jazz would be an understatement. He's so thoroughly immersed in both worlds that he conjured up a startlingly original merger of the two. Howard Reich --Chicago Tribune ## Images   ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars A BLISSFUL DEVOTION TO BIRD *by M***N on Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2015* Like the others Rudresh albums is the perfect combination of jazz with western music. In this case is a travel from India to Bird. You can fell the music of Charlie Parker but you hear something new, different , diverse approach to the magic ideas of Charlie Parker sound. This is the jazz, the real jazz of today. Like the last CD of Vijay Iver you discover new sounds, new combination..real jazz.The group is excellent. Adam O'Farrill, on trumpet (absolutely great), Matt Mitchell on piano, Francois Moutin o bass and Rudy Royston on drums. In all the CD you can hear something spiritual, something magic, the beauty of the world..excelent ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars The shape of jazz today. *by P***D on Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2020* Album is brilliantly conceived and performed. A contemporary evocation of Bird’s tune’s but also formidably original. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Best new CD of 2015 *by M***Y on Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2015* Best new CD of 2015. The other reviewer is confused. This is not a Charlie Parker tribute. It's merely the artist using Bird as an inspiration for these tunes, And he does so magnificently. Great interplay with the trumpet player too. Adam OFarrill. Remember that name. He's like 20 I believe. I have several cds by Rudresh and when he played with his alter ego Vejay and all are GOOD to some degree or another. This cd takes his composing and playing to another level. He has grown! Fantastic cd. Highly rated! --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.be/products/12985570-bird-calls](https://www.desertcart.be/products/12985570-bird-calls) --- *Product available on Desertcart Belgium* *Store origin: BE* *Last updated: 2026-05-19*