Charlie Parker is Bebop personified. Parker together with a few of his colleagues, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, Max Roach, Bud Powell, Lennie Tristano and Kenny Clarke, were at the centre of the new movement which concentrated in New York, in such places as Monroe's and Minton's. As a part of the pioneering Eckstine the found the perfect environment to explore and invent, and push the boundaries of phrasing, improvisation and tempo further and further out. Bebop became gradually accepted and it eventually defined Jazz. Parkers influence can be heard in Jazz musicians until this day. Although the form died down relatively quickly, the effects of the revolution clearly never will.

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Parker (born Kansas City 1920) generally known as Bird, was a creative genius, who could find more complicated shapes of improvisation in a 12-bar blues than any other musician. Unfortunately his life and career are dominated by the all too familiar drug incidents, incarcerations and illnesses. However, he seemed able to produce a highly inventive and creative performance even when completely drunk, stoned (or both). He never seemed likely to let his music stop charging and become stagnant. Despite his early death, there is a wealth of recorded material to testify that he must be considered the true genius of early modern Jazz.

 
Recommended recordings  
* Yardbird Suite Rhino 72260
* Bird & Diz  Verve 831-133
* Complete Charlie Parker on Verve  Verve 837-141
* Jazz at Masey Hall OJC 044-2
* The Complete Dial sessions Stash 567-570
* Bird at St Nick's  OJC 041-2
* The Charlie Parker Story Savoy Jazz 105