Celebrating A Century Of Charlie Parker, Part 1

The jazz world celebrated the centennial of Charlie Parker's birth in 2020. Parker is one of the select few musicians who justify the term '"genius." He was unquestionably one the greatest improvisers who ever played the music,. A critic for Downbeat wrote, "to say Charlie Parker was one of the greatest jazz musicians who ever lived is a bit like saying the Mona Lisa is a well-known painting."

The author and jazz critic Gary Gittins said, "It's difficult. to overestimate the influence of Charlie Parker." He changed the way we listen to harmonies, he completely changed rhythm, and he enriched the vocabulary." Join me as Jazz Connections takes a deep dive into his music, and his pervasive influence on the music we call jazz.

To celebrate his music, and his continuing influence, we'll hear many of his best known tunes as he recorded them, followed by a more contemporary interpretation. You'll hear a bit about his life, the music called bebop, and why his contribution has been so indelible.