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Chasin' the Bird: Charlie Parker in California
by Mark Sullivan
Chasin' the Bird: Charlie Parker in California David Chisholm: writing drawing and lettering; Peter Markowski: colors 144 Pages ISBN: 978-1940878386 (13) Z2 Comics 2020 Bebop pioneer Charlie Parker came to California in December, 1945 to play alto saxophone in trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie's band at Billy Berg's Hollywood jazz club. Their reception was mixed, with many in the audience unable to embrace the bebop revolution. When the two month residency ended Parker stayed behind, ...
Continue ReadingAugust Birthdays
by Marc Cohn
August birthdays this week, celebrating the centennials of Charlie Parker, singer Jimmy Witherspoon and bassist George Duvivier. George only did one session as a leader for a French label, which I have never been able to find. So, we pair him with other August celebrants: Jimmy Rushing, Lester Young, Arnett Cobb and Art Farmer. We also celebrate with Bennie Maupin (still with us at 80) as a sideman with Herbie Hancock and Jack DeJohnette (also his birthday). And there are ...
Continue ReadingCharlie Parker: In Praise of Bird on His 100th Birthday!
by Victor L. Schermer
A hundred years ago, on August 29, 1920, soon after jazz was born, Charlie Parker came into this world, and in the 35 years of a life cut short by addictions and impulse-driven living, he changed the face of the music. His innovations as one of the creators of bebop and his stunning sound and virtuosic saxophone playing changed the way music is composed and played, not only in jazz but most other musical genres as well. The changes he ...
Continue ReadingCharlie Parker: Birth Of Bebop - Celebrating Bird At 100
by Mark Corroto
Let's face it, there is absolutely nothing new to say about the music of Charlie Parker, unless (insert joke here) you happen to be Phil Schaap. Lao Tzu's quote “The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long" is fitting. John Coltrane was 40 when he died in 1967, Eric Dolphy 36 in 1964, and Clifford Brown died at 25 in 1956. Parker was dead at the age of thirty-five in 1955. His legend has grown larger with ...
Continue ReadingIl trombonista innamorato
by Libero Farnè
Il trombonista innamorato e altre storie di jazz Aldo Gianolio 278 pagine Robin, Torino 2019 Non possiamo sapere fino a quando durerà l'emergenza Coronavirus, che per forza di cose inibisce la nostra vita sociale e culturale. Sta di fatto che di questi tempi la lettura dei racconti di Aldo Gianolio agisce come un potente antidepressivo. Già nel 2002 per Mobydick lo scrittore reggiano aveva pubblicato A Duke Ellington non piaceva Hitchcock; ora quei racconti ...
Continue ReadingCharlie Parker: The Savoy 10-inch LP Collection
by Kyle Simpler
Charlie Parker is one of the most important musicians in jazz history and a household name even for people who never listen to jazz. His music is like a textbook for aspiring jazz musicians, and it still sounds modern even after more than a half century since its creation. 2020 marks the centennial of Parker's birth, and to help commemorate the anniversary, Craft Recordings has released a vinyl box set containing the first four “The New Sounds in Modern Music" ...
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