“Modern jazz has had from the start two main sources whence came most of the ideas. These two founts, as it were, of inspiration and of ideas are Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Indisputably they have enriched the lore of jazz throughout the world. They have taken what people have built before them, refashioned it in many ways, added to it, and have sent the jazz edi ce soaring for others to look up to; be inspired by, and, eventually, build upon. Most of the playing of Parker and Gillespie together was in the period 1944-46. At that time Gillespie had a small unit in which Parker was the featured soloist. Shortly after that period, they separated, each to go his own way. This album represents the rst get-together, in a sense, of the two since their separation. I took, as an ideal rhythm section, Thelonious Monk, who is a lesser light in modern jazz but, nevertheless, an important one: Curly Russel, an itinerant bassist, in the modern idiom; and Buddy Rich, a very swinging drummer. We made the sides contained in this album at a very happy date: and I think you will agree that Parker and Gillaspie are fresher and better than ever before, and axiomatically as they play, so does modern jazz grow”
(from original liner notes)