Born 100 years ago today Charlie Parker in his 34 years on the planet in terms of jazz today is still probably the most influential jazz musician to mean something to today's generation of players. It says much for the style, bebop, that he did so much to introduce to the world; but it also says a huge amount about the extraordinary musicianship and virtuosity of the man himself.
Here's a partial list of just some of today's leading players strongly influenced at one time or another in their careers by Bird: Steve Coleman, Anthony Braxton, Steve Lehman, Nathaniel Facey, Soweto Kinch, Zhenya Stigalev, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Sherman Irby, Tia Fuller. Pick up the alto saxophone today and it's practically impossible to avoid the inspiration of Charlie Parker. As Miles Davis said “you can tell the history of jazz in four words: Louis Armstrong. Charlie Parker”. Still a case somehow of now's the time!
Photo: Library of Congress/Gottlieb collection.
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