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Charlie Parker, 1920-1955
A startlingly innovative musician, Charlie "Bird" Parker played a pivotal role in shifting jazz from the domain of the big band to the ensemble, where dynamic, improvised solos both propelled and defined the music. Parker began playing the alto saxophone as a youth in Kansas City, Missouri -- a vibrant hub for jazz and blues. Steady work as a musician proved elusive when he went to New York City in 1939, but jam sessions at the city's nightspots fueled his experimentation with rhythm and phrasing. After several years with Jay McShann's swing band (1940–42) and short stints with the big bands of Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine, Parker embarked on a new phase of his career in 1945. Showcasing his genius for improvisation through performances and recordings with small ensembles, and later with his own quintet, Parker energized the growing bebop movement. A decade of groundbreaking creativity ended with his death at thirty-four, following years of substance abuse and struggles with mental illness. |