BORN ON THIS DAY: CHARLIE PARKER
Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, “Symphony Sid” Torin, Hi Hat, Boston, Dec. 1952. Vinnie Haynes.
BIRD LIVES — Celebrating the life and music of Charlie “Yardbird” Parker (August 29, 1920–March 12, 1955), Black American alto saxophonist and composer. A landmark musical figure born on this day.
In Charles Mingus’ book, Beneath The Underdog, the author recalled his first time encountering Charlie Parker in the mid-1940s at Billy Berg’s club in Los Angeles. Mingus was initially resistant to the bebop trend spearheaded by the saxophonist, but after moving to New York in the early 1950s, he became a member of Parker’s band. The two musicians can be heard playing together on the recordings The Quintet: Jazz At Massey Hall and Big Band (with the Dave Lambert Singers and a string orchestra arranged by Gil Evans). After Parker passed away in 1955, Mingus dedicated several compositions in memoriam, including “Reincarnation of a Lovebird,” “Bird Calls,” “Something Like A Bird,” “Parkeriana,” and “Gunslinging Bird (If Charlie Parker Were A Gunslinger, There’d Be A Whole Lot Of Dead Copycats).”
The innovations of Charlie Parker triggered something akin to a B.C.–A.D. separation in music, and in the era that follow his emergence, Parker’s influence was heard near-universally among musicians. This effect was acknowledged by Mingus with one of his album titles, Pre-Bird, comprised of selections he had written before meeting the saxophonist.
“Life has many changes. Tomorrow it may rain and it’s supposed to be sunshine ‘cause it’s summertime. But God’s got a funny soul, he plays like Charlie Parker. He may run some thunder on you, he may take the sun and put it in the nighttime—the way it looks to me.”
Charles Mingus, Roy Haynes, Thelonious Monk, and Charlie Parker at the Open Door, NYC, Sept. 1953. Bob Parent, photographer.
Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, “Symphony Sid” Torin, Roy Haynes, Joe Gordon, Hi Hat, Boston, Dec. 1952. Vinnie Haynes.
“Lovebird” and “Jump Monk” chord sheets, copywork by Jimmy Knepper, ca. 1957. Charles Mingus Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress.
“Poem To Bird — Charles Parker” by Charles Mingus. Liner notes, Town Hall Concert, 1964, Vol. 1, Jazz Workshop, JWS 005.
Charlie Parker holding microphone for Charles Mingus during a bass solo. Birdland, NYC, 1953. Celia Mingus Zaentz.