Charles Christopher Parker Jr.
Charlie Parker, known as "Bird," was a virtuoso alto saxophonist and composer who co-created the bebop revolution alongside Dizzy Gillespie. His lightning-fast improvisations, complex harmonic ideas, and rhythmic innovations changed jazz forever. Despite his tragically short life, Parker's influence on jazz improvisation remains immeasurable.
“Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn.”
— Charlie Parker
“Don't be afraid, just play the music.”
— Charlie Parker
“Master your instrument, master the music, and then forget all that and just play.”
— Charlie Parker
“You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.”
— Charlie Parker
“They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.”
— Charlie Parker
“If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn.”
— Charlie Parker
“I realized by using the higher intervals of a chord as a melody line and backing them with appropriately related changes, I could play the thing I'd been hearing.”
— Charlie Parker
“I kept thinking there's bound to be something else. I could hear it sometimes, but I couldn't play it.”
— Charlie Parker
“It's just music. It's trying to play clean and looking for the pretty notes.”
— Charlie Parker
“Any musician who says he is playing better either on tea, the needle, or when he is juiced, is a plain, straight liar.”
— Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker with Strings
1950
Jazz at Massey Hall
1953
Now's the Time
1953
Bird and Diz
1950
The Savoy Recordings
1945