History of Jazz- Charlie Parker
MUS 113 History of Jazz
November 5th 2010
Jazz Artist Paper
“Bird Lives”
Charlie Parker is with no question one of the most influential and important jazz players of the 1940’s. This man had such a talent and passion for playing the saxophone, more specifically the Alto Saxophone. Charlie’s Jazz era was during the Bee-bop phase of jazz. Bee-bop jazz differed from the other types because it used scales instead of chords, had small combos, and was built on rephrases of popular songs. Charlie Parker really helped influence and guide the way for other jazz musicians during the time of bee-bop and will be remembered forever from what his talent brought to the table of Jazz music.
Charlie Parker was born on August 29th 1920 and was the only child in the family of Charles and Addie Parker. He was born in Kansas City, Kansas but shortly after his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri where Jazz was thriving during the time. Charlie did attend school where he first found his love for music by playing the baritone horn in the school’s band. He also started to play in the local youth group bands to practice and display his music to people. At the age of 13 he became enamored with the Alto saxophone and that had become “his” specific instrument that he chose to play. When Charlie was 15 years old he decided to drop out of school to pursue more in his music career. Around 1935 until 1939 Charlie worked in Kansas City with different jazz groups to work on his music and develop more as an artist in jazz. More specifically in 1937 Parker played with some of his role models he looked up to such as the tenor saxophone player Lestor Young and the alto saxophone player Buster smith. He really saw the passion and talent these two had and it inspired him to want to learn more and influenced his as well with his own music. During 1938 Charlie joined Jay McShann, a pianist, band and toured with him in Chicago and New York. After this time Charlie returned to Chicago for a
November 5th 2010
Jazz Artist Paper
“Bird Lives”
Charlie Parker is with no question one of the most influential and important jazz players of the 1940’s. This man had such a talent and passion for playing the saxophone, more specifically the Alto Saxophone. Charlie’s Jazz era was during the Bee-bop phase of jazz. Bee-bop jazz differed from the other types because it used scales instead of chords, had small combos, and was built on rephrases of popular songs. Charlie Parker really helped influence and guide the way for other jazz musicians during the time of bee-bop and will be remembered forever from what his talent brought to the table of Jazz music.
Charlie Parker was born on August 29th 1920 and was the only child in the family of Charles and Addie Parker. He was born in Kansas City, Kansas but shortly after his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri where Jazz was thriving during the time. Charlie did attend school where he first found his love for music by playing the baritone horn in the school’s band. He also started to play in the local youth group bands to practice and display his music to people. At the age of 13 he became enamored with the Alto saxophone and that had become “his” specific instrument that he chose to play. When Charlie was 15 years old he decided to drop out of school to pursue more in his music career. Around 1935 until 1939 Charlie worked in Kansas City with different jazz groups to work on his music and develop more as an artist in jazz. More specifically in 1937 Parker played with some of his role models he looked up to such as the tenor saxophone player Lestor Young and the alto saxophone player Buster smith. He really saw the passion and talent these two had and it inspired him to want to learn more and influenced his as well with his own music. During 1938 Charlie joined Jay McShann, a pianist, band and toured with him in Chicago and New York. After this time Charlie returned to Chicago for a