Charlie "Bird" Parker the father of So-called Modern Jazz
Bird is the father of bebop. Parker or 'Bird' as he is famously nicknamed had a gloriously greedy appetite for all things sax. He is said to have practiced for fifteen hours a day. And the fruits of such hard labor can be heard on devilishly dynamic tracks included on this album such as ‘Scrapple from the Apple’ and ‘Ornithology’.
Propelling rhythms, irregular phrases and virtuosic solos characterize his up-tempo style. ‘Salt Peanuts’ showcases Parker’s brisk agility and eccentric delivery.
(Whilst ‘Embraceable, You’ is a fine example of Parker in a gentle ballad mood. ‘Au Privave’) is a positive mid-tempo number that echoes the influence of the earlier swing jazz style.
A real treat on this album is the lush heavy scored track ‘Repetition’ with its swooning strings, agitated winds, disjointed piano and Parker’s saxophone theme which waltzes away on top.
Poor old Charlie was to finally expire aged just thirty-four, a result of his hard-living, hard-playing and a few hard drugs. A life played out at break-neck speed. The Rough Guide to Charlie Parker revisits the recordings of a legend.
