Charlie Parker: The Most Influential Saxophonist in History
Charlie “Bird” Parker is widely regarded as the most iconic saxophonist of all time.
Early in his career, Parker famously practised songs in all twelve keys, often terrifying fellow musicians with his lightning-fast playing, arpeggio substitutions, and inventive contrafacts. His mastery of these techniques helped redefine jazz.
Parker collaborated with some of the finest musicians in the world and, together with Dizzy Gillespie, he is credited with creating the Bebop movement.
However, Parker’s life was as turbulent as his music. Struggling with alcoholism, heroin addiction, and mental illness, as well as the devastating loss of a child, his health rapidly deteriorated. By the time of his death from an untreated ulcer and pneumonia at the age of 34, the coroner estimated he had aged as though he were 60.
Among his many legendary compositions are Scrapple From The Apple, Donna Lee, A Night In Tunisia, Ornithology, Koko, Billie’s Bounce, Blues For Alice, and Confirmation.
In addition to his original works, Parker recorded several jazz standards, including All Of Me, April In Paris, I Get A Kick Out Of You, Stella By Starlight, and Summertime.
Charlie Parker Tunes | Related Pages
A Night In Tunisia | Chords + Lyrics
Learn how to play A Night In Tunisia by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker using chords, chord analysis, lyrics, a chord chart, and the original recording.
Verse
||: Eb7 | Dm7 | Eb7 | Dm7 | Eb7 | Dm7 | Em7b5 A7 | Dm7 :||
All Of Me | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play All Of Me by Frank Sinatra using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Bbmaj7 | Bbmaj7 | D7 | D7 |
All of me, why not take all of me…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: All Of Me (the Real Book) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Summertime | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Summertime by Billie Holiday using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Bbm7 F7b9/C | Db6 F7b9/C | Bbm7 F7b9/C | Db6 F7b9/C |
Summertime and the living is easy…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Summertime (Billie Holiday) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Charlie Parker on the web
