Via Mike Gehrke comes news that today would have been the 90th birthday of Charlie Parker, bebop pioneer and one of the inventors of what we know today as modern jazz.
Parker didn't make it to see his ninetieth birthday, nor even his fortieth, passing away at the all-too-young age of 34. But his legacy endures today, as do his recordings, which still evoke the same passion in a listener they did generations ago. Simply put, Parker revolutionized his genre, bringing a flare and technical proficiency that upped the ante for every musician that followed.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend Clint Eastwood's paean to Parker "Bird" for those unfamiliar with the alto saxophonist's stellar playing. But everyone, jazz aficionado or not, would enjoy the spate of recordings Parker made on the West Coast for the little-known Dial label. Across these dozens of tracks, Parker puts on a lesson of what it means to be a jazz musician. The first listen may yield a feeling of being overwhelmed by notes -- I distinctly remember the experience when I first came to these recordings as a novice listener -- but by the third or fourth listen one cannot help but embrace Parker's virtuosity truly honest feelings. Definitely take a listen. If the complete set is too much, try four of my favorites: Klact-Oveedseds-Tene, Quasimado, Dexterity, and Yardbird Suite.
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