Charlie Parker

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Charles Christopher “Bird” Parker, Jr (29th August 1920 – 12th March 1955) was an American bebop saxophonist and composer. Early in his career Parker was dubbed Yardbird; this was later shortened to ‘Bird’ (or sometimes ‘Yard’) and remained Parker’s nickname for the rest of his life and inspiration for the titles of his works such as “Ornithology and Yardbird Suite”.

Parker is commonly considered the greatest bebop jazz musician. In terms of influence and impact, his contribution to jazz was so great that Charles Mingus commented that if Bird were alive today, he would think he was living in a hall of mirrors. Bird’s talent is compared almost without argument to such legendary musicians as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, and his reputation and legend as one of the best saxophonists is such that some critics say he was unsurpassed.

A founding figure of bebop, Parker’s innovative approach to melody, rhythm and harmony have exerted an incalculable influence on jazz… Several of Parker’s songs have become standards of the repertoire, and innumerable musicians have studied Parker’s music and absorbed elements of his style.

Parker became an icon for the Beat generation, and was a pivotal figure in the evolving conception of the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual, rather than just a popular entertainer.

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1		Ornithology			585
2		Now's the Time			489
3		Lover Man			456
4		Just Friends			446
5		Scrapple from the Apple			443
6		Embraceable You			396
7		Yardbird Suite			359
8		Summertime			326
9		Star Eyes			317
10		April In Paris			306
11		Parker's Mood			298
12		A Night in Tunisia			297
13		Out Of Nowhere			290
14		Bird of Paradise			248
15		Moose The Mooche			235

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