Among the landmark moments that have entered jazz folklore are Benny Goodman’s historic 1938 concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Louis Armstrong’s Town Hall appearance in 1947, Dizzy Gillespie’s performance at the Salle Pleyel in 1948, Ella Fitzgerald’s unforgettable 1964 concert in the pine grove of Juan-les-Pins, and Keith Jarrett’s 1998 engagement at New York’s Blue Note.
To this distinguished—if far from exhaustive—list belongs the legendary concert given at Toronto’s Massey Hall on May 15, 1953, by a dream quintet of bebop masters: alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, pianist Bud Powell, bassist Charles Mingus, and drummer Max Roach. It is this extraordinary moment in jazz history that Franck Médioni brings vividly to life in his aptly titled Jazz at Massey Hall.
Organized by the passionate enthusiasts of the New Jazz Society (NJS), the concert took place without any significant advance publicity and attracted only a modest audience. Many potential concertgoers instead stayed home to watch the live television broadcast from Chicago Stadium of the world heavyweight championship bout between Rocky Marciano and Jersey Joe Walcott.
Although the venture proved a commercial disappointment, its artistic success was nothing short of breathtaking, as demonstrated by the complete recording presented here, including Max Roach’s astonishing drum showcase, Drum Conversation, as well as the unabridged performances of Perdido and Wee.
One important point deserves mention. As Jean Buzelin notes, Charles Mingus, having obtained the concert tapes for release on his Debut label, re-recorded his bass part in the studio because it was considered insufficiently audible on the original recording. The new track was then overdubbed onto the live performance.
One may regret the absence of a bibliography referring readers to key historical works on the subject, such as Geoffrey Haydon’s Quintet of the Year (Aurum Press, 2002) or Mark Miller’s Cool Blues: Charlie Parker in Canada, 1953(Nightwood Editions, 1989). Even so, the book’s chapters tracing the origins of bebop and profiling the musicians who took part in the concert significantly enhance its value.
Equally rewarding are the reflections gathered by Médioni from an impressive roster of musicians, including Franck Amsallem, Antoine Berjeaut, Laurent Bataille, Joe Lovano, Christophe Monniot, Alexandra Grimal, Christophe Marguet, Fabrice Moreau, Matthieu Donarier, Enzo Carniel and Stéphane Kerecki. Their insights cast fresh and illuminating light on one of the defining moments in jazz history.
In short, this is jazz in all its freedom, grandeur and magic.
Jazz at Massey Hall by Franck Médioni
Frémeaux & Associés, 2026. 231 pages.
The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall, Toronto, 15 May 1953
Frémeaux & Associés FA5924 (1 CD).
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