On this day in 1955 Charlie "Bird" Parker Passed

[Cactus Bob]

One could only imagine what his musical future would have brought us had he lived.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Parker

The Death of Charlie Parker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs324qO77Og&feature=related

Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie play "Hot House"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkvCDCOGzGc

 

[Kuma]

Thanks for sharing, Cactus Bob. I didn't realize today marked the anniversary of his death.
As an alto sax player myself, Charlie Parker was, is, and always will be my biggest inspiration. Bird Lives!

 

[Cactus Bob]

Thanks for sharing, Cactus Bob. I didn't realize today marked the anniversary of his death.
As an alto sax player myself, Charlie Parker was, is, and always will be my biggest inspiration. Bird Lives!

I'm listening to "Now's the Time" right now. What a great player. :thmbsp:

 

[Kuma]

"Confirmation" is my favorite piece. But hell, they're all perfect.

What gets -me as a player- is how he broke through the finger habits we instrumentalists always have - and by that I mean we play whats comfortable to play. Your fingers gain habits and those passages become a part of your style. But when Bird played, he went for what sounded beautiful in his mind and didn't compromise anything. There's a book of music that contains all of his solos, it's called the Omnibook - and when I read a passage of solos from the Omnibook, it's damned tough to play (and I've been a player for 36 years).

I've gotta get into my vinyl and make this a Charlie Parker listening session night.

 

[slow_jazz]

Hard to believe it's been that long ago... Left us way too soon...