Drifting on a Reed, recorded November 4, 1947, is a blues in B-flat by the Charlie Parker Sextet taken at approximately 206-213 BPM over a 12-bar form. The expanded sextet features the addition of J. J. Johnson on trombone to the standard quintet lineup, and the recording showcases an extensive series of solos: Parker opens with three choruses of alto saxophone, followed by Johnson for two choruses on trombone, Miles Davis for two choruses on trumpet, Duke Jordan for two choruses on piano, and Tommy Potter for one chorus on acoustic bass. The inclusion of Johnson, the foremost bebop trombonist, adds a new color to Parker's ensemble and the three-horn front line creates richer ensemble textures. Parker's three-chorus solo is a sustained exploration of the blues at a brisk tempo. Johnson's two choruses demonstrate his unprecedented facility on an instrument that many had considered too cumbersome for bebop. This sextet recording captures an expanded version of Parker's working band at a moment of exceptional creativity.
