Charlie Parker-Donna Lee

Charlie Parker All Stars-Harry Smith Studios,New York,8/5/1947
Miles Davis(trumpet),Charlie Parker(alto sax),Bud Powell(piano),Tommy Potter(bass),MaxRoach(drums).

[@connorlee8983]

They're so good, they all played that without moving!!

[@voinburg916]

its a PHOTO, stupid

[@connorlee8983]

@@voinburg916 that's the point, it was a joke

[@leofender909]

>Inb4 r/woooosh

[@4362-n4v]

😂

[@sosolar8515]

@@voinburg916 its a sarcasm dude

[@davidzada320]

The ages of the band members at the time of this recording: Miles: 20 Bud: 22 Roach: 23 Bird: 26 Potter: 28

[@seogookim6430]

what in the world...

[@chrisdom9188]

i've still got 5 years to catch up to potter

[@G.O.A.TR7]

Update pls​@@chrisdom9188

[@Tom-ig3rj]

what am i doing with my life

[@G.O.A.TR7]

@@chrisdom9188 update

[@Brianhartmanmusic]

Charlie Parker locked himself in a room in his mothers house for three years and practiced 13 hours a day. Thats how he achieved that level of playing.

[@itis4137]

is that a fact?

[@peliparado94]

I don't know if it's a fact, but I've heard this before as well. Legend has it he constantly recieved letters from the neighbours complaining about his saxophone practice and pressuring him to move lmao.

[@storingjazzinmycheeksforth5319]

top tip to aspiring musicians: DON'T FUCKING DO THAT

[@richardsmith8094]

@@storingjazzinmycheeksforth5319 Yup, that's not practice, it's mental illness. Fucking ridiculous, these myths and legends.

[@CoDisafishy]

@@oostapchuk 13 hours of playing everyday would be brutal for anyone that's not obsessed. I'm sure if you play that much, you'll figure a thing or two out pretty quickly. I think some people are naturally gifted at certain things, but much of it is hard work.

[@ReverendRicktaScale]

Love the rhythmic lick Parker does at 1:04, then does some variations on it . it's like he saying this is how you do it.

[@evandrofavaro2524]

Escutando essa música, fiquei abismado com a sincronia perfeita de sax e trompete. Como eles conseguiam tocar tão rápido ao mesmo tempo? Salve Charlie Parker!

[@PBrrtrn]

Every once in a while, I just put on Charlie's solo on this track and stare at the picture of him that I hung up on my room. This is why he'll never be forgotten -- it's just one of the best solos I've heard. It's brisk, smooth, playful but rich and reflexive. Just pure magic in jazz form.

[@nelss864]

Man I do the same shit I love Charlie Parker it’s crazy how depression lead him to be the greatest musician ever and also die by it

[@nelss864]

Man I do the same shit I love Charlie Parker it’s crazy how depression lead him to be the greatest musician ever and also die by it

[@donnabert]

Ug, my dad named me after this song and I hate it because it has no melody.

[@G.O.A.TR7]

​@@donnabertno melody?

[@larreetheexhortationist8878]

Oddly enough, I heard Jaco's version years before I heard this one. I can now see how & why he was so greatly inspired to cover this classic. This is pure genius at work!

[@aminnellis]

So many people argue over whether Miles or Parker wrote the song. Who cares? They're in their early days of playing together. This is pure gold. Just enjoy the music

[@jakeschubert5430]

If there's ever any dispute assume Miles didn't write it though, he has an extensive history of claiming to have written tunes that he stole

[@Malik-Ibi]

My son's music teacher is making hear the students this song. But when I searched about the authorship I found the two versions. I don't know what to put in author.

[@tommyv8312]

Jake Schubert I would highly doubt he stole them. Ik people who were neighbors with miles and corrected me about assuming things like this. Miles was actually a very nice guy, people just decided to think he was a dick because he kept it straight and had a raspy old voice. Regardless listen to the music and listen to how he plays, that’s all that matters

[@NickWeissMusic]

Based on their personalities, Miles would claim the tune, and Bird would say, sure, he wrote it ;) Miles probably did have to write it down and practice it. I don't think Bird had to at this point in his career, these were just Bird's internalized licks in a particular order, he wasn't thinking note to note like mere mortals.

[@vatanenj]

I tell you a nice story from HELSINKI FINLAND: On our "walking street" there were three very yound guys- maybe 20 years old. bass, snare drum & cymbal & hi hat and a very worn alto. They were playing standards like Bye bye blackbird etc. I asked: where are you guys from ? here, from Helsinki. We are students of our SIBELIUS academy. I said Oh yeah?? If you know and play DONNA LEE I give you twenty dollars each guy. Then .. One two Three.. Diljaduba, ubaduba.and so on, in same tempo like Birds original.. and I was short of sixty dollars.. I had to go to a "cash wall" to pay my debt, but I was amazed... Those young cats..!

[@demoolc-ops855]

Raddaddy watanen so ur not in sibelius academy? :((

[@larryweinberg1191]

The world needs more patrons of the arts like yourself.

[@JacobDFerguson]

Awesome story, cheers!

[@bobbyfischer604]

Cool story, bro! Thanks!

[@sayanorasonic]

Well... You usually don't hear finns playing jazz. Hats off to you

[@susannoel3672]

When I was young I memorized this, and could sing every note.

[@neat1039]

damn

[@johnmclaughlin9823]

Impressive

[@zenatti364]

You must have great ears

[@latinkeys1]

I am curious.. do you still play. Or sing Susan Noel?

[@rasjjmitchell7977]

@@johnmclaughlin9823 are you THE John McLaughlin?

[@801walt]

I've been studying Jaco's version on bass for 5 weeks now. It's been very enlightening to come back to this and learn the changes (I have a lead sheet). Puts it in a true light.

[@alejandrodiazrodriguez2674]

Do u have the transcription of that version ?

[@MegaJesusini]

@@alejandrodiazrodriguez2674 look for this title: "Donna Lee (Jaco Pastorius version) 144bpm with TAB"

[@patxmcq]

Once you make that breakthrough, Jaco's version gets better and better with every relistening

[@kellyphillips5909]

I'm watching the Montreux jazz fest with Jacos band in one ear and this version in the other

[@NickWeissMusic]

Haha I was just writing something else about Jaco’s version, and I know what you’re saying. It is eye opening to hear the original. I am a bass player, and lay prostrate at the feet of Jaco, but I’m over it. No dynamics, no articulation other than machine gun, no charm in his version. It’s a show off piece, of course incredibly impressive in that regard, but coming back to listen to this, now that’s a piece of music. Jaco makes it sound hard, these guys make it sound easy. 😮 PS: I still love Jaco, he sold a hell of a lot of tickets showing off, but Tom Brady doesn’t throw a touchdown every play either.

[@TheJMusicNow]

Yes. true genius is something your born with. But unlocking that genius takes a great deal of work.

[@aw8079]

That is all you need. Right there. Back home again in Indiana....

[@charlieparker4928]

Best song of all time

[@andresolanguitar9795]

Obviously you’d say that mate

[@lopz33]

¡Tremendo clásico!

[@milocl529]

@Santy GamerPro k

[@phillipnarte2553]

Bird said; first you master the instrument, 2nd master the music. Then you just blow😊

[@MrAnderswt]

Bud Powell's short solo is great!

[@dasshoe8270]

Respect for these great musicians!

[@imbees2]

Charlie, Mile, Bud, Max and Tommy Potter. Unbelievable.

[@415JayTee]

It doesn't get much better than those cats right there. Bird, Miles, Max, Bud, & Tommy. What a quintet.

[@VolodymyrMatviychukguitar]

02.02.2020 still one of the most popular standarts! 🎶

[@patiencet5183]

I love music, so I play! Thats how they got so good!

[@italoita9193]

Fantastico, ouvindo Parker até morrer, Parker para sempre, o que é bom é como ouro,

[@alvaro5805]

muito raro ver um fã de jazz, e ainda mais um fã de bebop. fico feliz em saber que gente como eu ainda existe! eu tbm vou ouvir o bird até morrer, ele é insubstituível e incomparável.

[@voriskinlaw9775]

Serious Player's Can Never Get Tired Of This 🎷🎺🔊🎶!!!

[@richardmanning]

Bud Powell had joined by then, made the complete group out of this world, tune based on Indiana!

[@claudiosoares9962]

Great sound Mr Charlie Parker purê cool jazz oh yeah !!!😎

[@gregarnold1696]

Spinning gold from the air;wasting no time;the line starts here!!!

[@gsco82]

It is always interesting to hear greats like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, such incredibly talented musicians. In his brief solo, Miles plays more of a typical bebop style rather than the 'cool' style which he later pioneered. Thanks so much for uploading this great music, a piece of jazz history.

[@richardmanning7655]

Bud was great, never eclipsed!!!!

[@rrobyrroby1079]

My great god!!! So touching! I'm quite in tears.

[@MrDaraghkinch]

Parker's the only soloist who plays clean on this recording. Even Bud Powell has a few sloppy bits. As a student, it's very encouraging to witness the fallibility of the greats. Incidentally, I'm yet to hear Bird ever split a note or fluff a line, even when he's hammered on the infamous recording of Loverman for the Dial label he just sounds more mellow, like Lester Young!

[@generalh1042]

I found a recording of Bird with Woody Herman playing Four Brothers, Bird didn't know the changes in the bridge (I think) so he layed off for 8 bars or so to listen to the changes. It's on KZbin somewhere I think...

[@jazzatnoonmke659]

"Clean" ? Just curious.

[@MrDaraghkinch]

@@jazzatnoonmke659 I mean everything he plays is technically precise and sounds effortless. The other guys sound like they are really stretching, on the edge of their technique.

[@memecraft6764]

@@MrDaraghkinchyeah miles never really found his sound until birth of the cool, and the greatest example of this is his struggles with the bebop runs in this song, even in his autobiography he says himself how he wasnt good at standards like cherokee or a night in tunisia

[@imbees2]

People, there is no rhyme or reason, explanation for the brilliance of Charlie Parker's musical prowess. It is what it is, accept it and move along!

[@ainsleighsmith8587]

My saxophone teacher told me to look this up so I did and tbh I really like it

[@daevkeli1013]

There's a story of how when he first played this, Lionel Hampton (if memory serves) camped outside outside Parker's place to beg for a transcription of the head. That was the quantum theory of the music.

[@shaddjimenez4524]

that’s amazing

[@wilgreenstreet]

Bird....still the greatest ever!!!

[@chuckc7375]

He sure is

[@matthewmitchell1328]

This....started so many movements...Jam Band improvisation. Thank you, Bird!

[@shaddjimenez4524]

masterpiece.

[@branmar]

In Bird's solo I hear him thinking "Indiana." In Miles' solo I hear him thinking about the twists and turns of the "Donna Lee" head. In the piano solo I hear just pure unadulterated Bud.

[@hremdldw]

Always credited to Charlie Parker written by Miles Davis Based on the changes of Back Home In Indiana

[@MrArt8man]

Happy birthday Charlie Parker.

[@ajparadise6649]

I googled my teacher and I got here. It is funny because this song came out waaaay before she was born, so her parents must not have heard about it I guess. It is also a great song.

[@expat3489]

Wow, great post! Their pictures come up along with their solos and you've listed the rhythm section as well. Thank you!

[@pablovillarreal2973]

Les recomiendo como Venezolano q soy, que escuchen al PAVO FRAN HERNADEZ en su orquesta interpreta esta pieza de Charlie Parker, es genial y la interpretacion y ejecucion es de calidad, no se la pierdan

[@jazztemple2]

What a cool freakin' song!

[@ricoricky98]

His quick precision with all those notes in his runs is what gets me ❤fucking whoa !!!!!

[@duanemiddleton9162]

Absolutely Masterful. So Damn Badd!

[@flame-sky7148]

People saying Miles struggled on this: Well according to him, he wrote the tune (and I don't doubt it). Also he was just like 20 or 21 here and he was playing with the greatest sax player ever at that time. Let's see you do that on your instrument at that age.

[@robertvanruyssevelt7159]

Here's a bunch of young people doing a good job: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKK5l3eYerKnaqM

[@flame-sky7148]

@@robertvanruyssevelt7159 Good stuff, that one guy (trumpet player) isn't that young.

[@robertvanruyssevelt7159]

@@flame-sky7148 Yep he's the only non Catalan from Barcelona - he's an established US pro

[@flame-sky7148]

@@robertvanruyssevelt7159 I actually like Jaco's version with the congas.

[@pietroeliabarcellona]

Put it on 1.5 speed and sniff a few lines. Good stuff man

[@nate_kang]

Donna Lee is one helluva drug.

[@DanteDDC]

@Nigga Bean Do you mean Parker? ;)

[@owenrodriguez6107]

I tried jajaj naah man

[@caiovaz3812]

Listen to John Coltrane- Russian lullaby, its on that speed you want :)

[@angelainyt]

I like this, wish I had seen them perform it live in a jazz club

[@dananthony6258]

This has to be the funnest song I ever learned to play.

[@Butter-fly716]

Wow it’s good love it

[@vatanenj]

This was the tune I practised over and over again. Finally when mastering it, I could say: I play saxophone.. It is based on a "well known standard" that Harlem Globetrotters" were whistling while playing.. hehe

[@branmar]

Donna Lee is based on the changes to "Indiana." The Globetrotters' theme that you refer to is "Sweet Georgia Brown."

[@melodeboro2605]

Esse cara poderia ter vivido mãosdadas. . Se não fosse os excessos em sua vida. Pois tinha uma grande capacidade musical e produziria bastante se não tivesse morrido jovem.

[@kenzeller6518]

Best way to learn this: by ear and then play along. Eventually, you'll recognize patterns and the next Bird song will be easier to pick up.

[@jazzatnoonmke659]

"best" is possibly the right word but if your ear isnt as developed as the music your learning ,don't be afraid to use your brain.Ultimately the goal is everything by ear!

[@kenzeller6518]

@@jazzatnoonmke659 Yes, ear training is necessary to learn by listening at this level but I believe both the ear and brain are at use when doing so. This is the aural tradition of music through history.

[@TheSinnical]

Here from Rick Beato's video about Jaco Pastorius' rendition of this song... thought of checking the original first, delighted now!

[@reidasplataformas9397]

Um clássico bepop! Uma pena ter tantas poucas views

[@claudiosoares9962]

Totally jazz high quality...oh yeah god sabe The América !!!!!!😎🌎

[@varod42]

yeah bro 100% agreed

[@martymetcalf]

Genius.

[@user-uk6bg3qu9u]

聽了嚴爵的歌才找過來的，原來只有曲，嚴爵真的很喜歡這曲才會為它做了一首歌，我剛聽歌時還以為李唐娜是舊上海時期的女歌手呢～😂

[@pierreungerer5082]

This is a very good donna lee remake… Very well played on a so tiny keyboard. 👍

[@jracerichards]

Remastering is a beautiful thing

[@sebastiangreco4179]

Sencillamente un hermoso tema

[@michaelwosslert9524]

Beautiful!

[@3MUnique]

Couldn’t tell Miles Davis sh*t after recording with Bird, I’m certain.

[@jimbosteen2935]

No wonder they called him Bird, he played effortlessly, kinda easy relaxing, train diff, but gawd great tooo

[@richardmanning7655]

Miles was asked to play like diz because that was the style at the time, Miles was unheard of

[@ivandelarioja2008]

+Richard Manning the funny thing is that it's a miles composition

[@richardmanning7655]

+Ivan De la Rioja Never proved, it was said at the time that Bird actually let Miles have the rights so as he could earn a bit of money, It's obviously a Parker tune, listen to it, Miles never wrote anything like it

[@ivandelarioja2008]

that sounds logical by the way... thanks for the info, bro

[@farshimelt]

@@richardmanning7655 Listen to Half Nelson, written by Miles, very Be Boppish in it's phrasing.

[@abrahampalmer1153]

Majestic

[@theodorepullins3124]

AWESOME 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO

[@yodersitsgrandmagood1416]

This song was most likely composed by Miles Davis and then published under Parkers name. You can hear how it isn’t quite Parker’s style in the composition.

[@indieWellie]

it used to be that the band leader would be credited with any original composition. same thing happened with miles davis being credited for writing blue in green

[@edwinsantos7937]

There's Charlie motherfucking Parker, and there are all the other saxophone players.

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

You just insulted soprano, tenor, baritone etc. saxophonists. Plus a whole slew of brilliant alto players from the classical genre, the traditional swing and the cool jazz, who played lovelier than Parker ever did or could. In other words, Parker was a fine player but celebrated over-excessively in a very confined box called the bebop.

[@dorianvaughn1915]

@@zvonimirtosic6171 Exactly. John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon are three of the greatest people ever to play. And Sonny Stitt is a master of both alto and tenor.

[@psw1058]

미안하다 이거 보여주려고 어그로끌었다.. 찰리파커 마일스 잼수준 ㄹㅇ실화냐? 진짜 세계관최강자들의 잼이다.. 그찐따같던 찰리파커가 맞나? 진짜 버드는 전설이다..진짜옛날에 맨날재즈들었는데 왕같은존재인 버드가되서 세계최강 전설적인 영웅이된찰리파커보면보면 진짜내가다 감격스럽고 찰리파커 노래부터 명장면까지 가슴울리는장면들이 뇌리에 스치면서 가슴이 웅장해진다..

[@PeterSquires-ld7uo]

Bud Powell on Piano props up the Groove like Spann in Muddy's Band.

[@TournamentPlayer]

The bebop footage is wonderful to see.

[@angelinaavila2282]

Whoever put a thumbs down is one sad soul... Lord, help these people. -_-

[@sp4gsus]

so agree

[@looper3412]

They're all the people who are trying to learn this master piece XD

[@larniete-puki7651]

For sure

[@marselmusic]

exactly 10/10

[@MrJerkdude1]

Or they just have an opinion and whether you something is good or not is subjective and you didn't take a second to think about that before you wrote this comment 2 years ago

[@fredericdiehl9475]

Salut Charlie , tu restes le meilleur...

[@manguera9]

i have the Miles book , in one page .Miles said " Parker own me money ", and the situation in the hotel's room went out of hand at that point , Miles took a broken bottle in front to Parker aiming to attack and defend himself

[@ForeverFever49]

So tricky to transcribe by ear

[@hanyuntan518]

+Jordan523 youtube now can reduce the speed to half (0.5). Check options > speed

[@gscgold]

+Tan Han Yun Thanks for pointing that out..

[@vinigretzky97]

not for you, though, right?

[@darkstar32526]

Or you can use a KZbin to mp3 website, then use Audacity to mess with the tempo

[@julesshively]

literally exactly wat im trying to do rn

[@toulminbrown9166]

1947 recording studios albeit Savoy was an excellent record label those recording studios did not over the you got one take with probably to microphones over the top of the band and what you hear is what you get that's how it was in 1947

[@bolin4814]

If only I had time to play for 13 hours a day.

[@Psychicxfish]

It's funny, Miles struggles just a tiny bit with his solo. I can see why he wanted to start the "Cool" era

[@lkb3rd]

I think he was less than 20 years old at the time. Possibly 17.

[@clancywiggam]

He did write the tune.

[@LasseBoogieJensen]

clancywiggam He sure didn't.. it's not Miles' style at all, at least comparing it to other things in his career. But if Mr. Davis could claim it to be "his", he'd do it. I'd rather have Dizzy play on this.

[@mohitoness]

yeah Miles was a visionary but, like clifford brown said, highly imitable

[@maxbednarchik3875]

Wether he wrote the tune or not is a huge debate, which nobody can claim to actually know the answer too. Unless you were actually there when it was composed. As for his solo, does he sound like Dizzy? My response would be kind of. He was pretty much Dizzy's student,though he did very much so have his own sound. And what about the solo do you not like? Anyways, you try to play a solo directly following Charlie Parker and we shall see how you do :) If you want to hear miles spit tin like Dizzy then check out his solo on Good Bait with Tadd Dameron.

[@dommirra5429]

The band Phish does an incredible version of this song played on guitar mostly check it out it's amazing!!!

[@mspeter97]

One day, someone told me to play this on the violin....ouch

[@AlexPriceMusician]

+Le Docteur Right there with you man. It's hard to make a bow swing

[@mspeter97]

the bow was not the main problem^^ getting the notes right is really hard on this one

[@wenglish1968]

+Le Docteur My last teacher had me learn it on Guitar. Ouch is right!

[@AlexPriceMusician]

I know it on guitar too... It's not any easier lol

[@_fyeb_]

+Le Docteur It's really not that difficult, not if you're familiar with jazz playing in general. For someone with no jazz background it might indeed be a problem like you mentioned. I'm also a violinist and know the head and bird's solo by heart, the solo being a bit more technically frustrating. But you can always solve things like that by shifting positions and changing the notation a bit, like I said in and of itself it isn't a difficult piece.

[@BusraBakr-qy6jz]

Amazing 👏

[@BirdBop]

Bud, Bird, Monk and tatum are the true greats, no one touches them.

[@pathaleyguitar9763]

They are undoubtably true greats, but I wouldn't say untouchable. I think Hiromi Uehara, Tigran Hamasyan, Eldar Djangirov, Michael Brecker, and Joshua Redman probably have a thing or two on them.

[@kevincosnerfacebook8348]

OH! MAN! THANK YOU!

[@richardmanning7655]

Indiana never sounded so good!!!!!

[@zacharyhaynes8969]

Wym Indiana? Most of these guys are from New York, none from Indy

[@Jimoff2Gaming]

Zachary Haynes maybe referring to the fact the changes are the same as Back Home Again in Indiana?

[@javierdiazsantana]

This playing loud in the speakers and a glass of scotch, that's a whole other story.

[@gymnassfan]

THE jazz tune.

[@Nir_official_guitar]

Just got the A part right on my guitar

[@fukinguitar]

I study music and my teacher (who is a massive jazz fan and an incredible jazz musician) told us today that Miles took advantage of Charlie's situation (his heroin addiction) and made some tricky bussiness and that's why everybody says that this was writin by Miles, he also told us that Miles was kind of a gangster at the time, he was surrounded by some dangerous people.

[@Miligram573]

Yep, all gruesome details are in his autobiography

[@lc4crew]

Dgraham13 bullshit. this is miles song, but it was parkers band.

[@Miligram573]

Mario Super I was talking about Miles' Autobiography.

[@Miligram573]

Mario Super I wasn't saying that this was Charlie's song, I was acknowledging both musicians for their troubles in life.

[@007attaboy]

Jonathan Manrique Villegas - I'm so glad Jonathan, that you came on here and said what someone had to say. "A lot, maybe nearly all, of what Davis got credit for was actually written by Charlie Parker." All you have to do is listen to Davis's playing and you know he couldn't have written all that music he gets credit for. And just get familiar with him a little bit, and you get the feeling he was not a good person.

[@farshimelt]

In 1' 9" Bird said more, with fewer notes, than most players say in 10 minutes.

[@kurentbellsringing4306]

🎼🥰timless and amazing

[@PaoloLongo]

such a God was Bird ! Miles Dewey : I adore Him ! My son's second name, in Rome, Italy, is just Miles! Ermanno Miles Longo !

[@jonathanngwenya8762]

So good

[@lampfacedampchase8048]

what a bop

[@Calvin1985]

Imma tell my kids this is Kenny G.

[@RandomAwesomeism]

wish my parents told me that because this would probably have stimulated my brain in better ways than kenny g did...lol

[@lrowlands53]

Damn that's funny. Only those who've suffered in the G space get this joke.

[@garrettjuhl2142]

"This was Barack Obama"

[@Calvin1985]

@@lrowlands53 look out, it’s the Jazz Police!

[@Calvin1985]

@@lrowlands53 (my original comment wasn’t intended to be criticism of Kenny G)

[@clarkewi]

Band of giants.

[@pariah_carey]

My bass teacher taught me to play the Jaco version like twenty years ago. One of the most interesting melodies I’ve ever heard. Blues For Alice is another one in a similar vein, look that up if you dig this song. Here, I’ll even save you the trouble of looking for it kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqSYd414ntiUnJo

[@gregdolecki8530]

This version has to be the shortest jazz tune ever, even with solos.

[@whiplash212345]

Anyone here from Jaco's interpretation of this song?

[@Foghat1961]

Parker - Jaco - Guthrie - Parker again

[@lEMGl]

Hell yeah. But its good to come back and listen to the original every now and again.

[@leomorales1764]

no but im heading there rn

[@yurantembe1633]

here

[@SebastianRosa]

Porca puttana di una maiala impestata, I can't believe I would've found this type of comments even here.

[@g0ingcosmo809]

This is my jazz final for high school (trombone player btw)