Biography
All-star ensembles have long been a staple within jazz circles, yet none matched the Quintet's renown or its status as the premier gathering of bop-focused musicians assembled for a single performance. The group captured Jazz at Massey Hall during a 1953 concert in Toronto featuring altoist Charlie Parker, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, pianist Bud Powell, bassist Charles Mingus, and drummer Max Roach, each then leading their respective instrument categories—although Mingus filled in for Oscar Pettiford, who had fractured his arm in a baseball game. Mingus handled the initial recording and release of the event, after which numerous reissues and compilations of varying quality emerged.
Albums
