The names should tell you everything you need to know here:

Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet)
Charlie Parker (alto sax)
Bud Powell (piano)
Charles Mingus (bass)
Max Roach (drums)

The Quintet includes the musicians above playing a live performance at Massy Hall in Toronto, Canada on May 15, 1953. You would think with the names above the place would have been packed. Unfortunately it was three quarters empty due to heavyweight championship boxing match between Rocky Marciano and Jersey Joe Walcott. Lucky for us – the concert was recorded and it captured some fantastic bebop performed by some of the men who put it on the map.

To my ear Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie never sounded better. Powell, Roach and Mingus provide a rock solid rhythm section who spur on the horns and provide fantastic solos themselves. It’s great hearing the reaction of the crowd to Dizzy’s antics and even some mumbling conversations (arguments) between some of the musicians. All in all it is a fantastic/historic recording that belongs in any collection.