Charlie Parker tunes

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The most influential saxophone player that ever lived!

Charlie “Bird” Parker is the most famous saxophone player of all time.

Parker would early on in his playing career famously practice songs in all twelve keys, and terrify his fellow musicians with his fast playing, arpeggio substitution, and inventive contrafacts.

Her would play with the world’s finest musicians during his short career and in doing so invent Bebop with Dizzy Gillespie.

Bird not only played hard but also lived hard, with alcoholism and heroin addiction taking hold early on. Mixed with mental illness and the loss of a child at an early age, he aged quickly and became suicidal.

When Mr. Parker died from an untreated ulcer and pneumonia at the tender age of 34, the coroner estimated he was 60 years old.

Famous compositions include Scrapple From The Apple, Donna Lee, A Night In Tunisia, Ornithology, Koko, Billie’s Bounce, Blues For Alice, and Confirmation.