Charlie Parker was born in Kansas City on this date in 1920. The Rifftides staff debated whether to observe the occasion by publishing a 5000-word essay tracing Parker’s musical heritage, analyzing the components of his style and evaluating his influence on several generations of musicians. You’ll be happy to know that we decided instead to take Bird’s advice in the film below and let his music speak for itself.
This is the only known clip of Parker actually playing. In several others he is seen performing to pre-recorded sound tracks. The man presenting 1951 Down Beat awards to Parker and Dizzy Gillespie is the columnist Earl Wilson, assisted by critic Leonard Feather. The rhythm section is Dick Hyman, piano; Sandy Block, bass; and Charlie Smith, drums. The piece is Tadd Dameron’s “Hot House.” The staff is aware that many of you have seen this clip. We are equally aware that you can’t see it too often.
Charlie Parker’s Birthday
August 29, 2009 by
Happy birthday.
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
Wow…he is amazing. I’m learning to play to and I hope to be as good as he is. Happy birthday Charlie!
This is a very interesting video, and not only because of the music. The introduction is quite weird: “Boys …” … ??? … There is a passage where he plays one of his speedy lines, but one can hardly see his fingers move. It’s always amazing to see, how he’s standing there like a monolith, a bastion of calm, behind him the over-enthusiastically grinning Charlie Smith, obviously experiencing one of the happiest moments in his life.
Here comes a little bebop ad: If you wanna hear some more with him, feel free to click on my name*. I coincidentally celebrated him twice at my blog without thinking of his birthday.
(*In red, upper left corner.)