Cherokee-Charlie Parker .

Charlie Parker-Vic Damon Studios,Kansas City,September 1942.
Charlie Parker(alto sax),Efferge Ware(guitar),Little Phil Phillips(drums).
« Non riuscivo più a sopportare le armonie stereotipate che allora venivano continuamente impiegate da tutti. Continuavo a pensare che doveva esserci qualche cosa di diverso. A volte riuscivo a sentire qualcosa, ma non ero in grado di suonarlo... Si quella notte improvvisai a lungo su Cherokee. Mentre lo facevo mi accorsi che impiegando come linea melodica gli intervalli più alti degli accordi, mettendovi sotto armonie nuove, abbastanza affini, stavo suonando improvvisamente ciò che per tutto quel tempo avevo sentito dentro di me. Rinacqui a nuova vita. »
(Charlie Parker)

[@bills48321]

This track should have been included on the disc that NASA sent into space years ago to showcase human achievements to other civilizations.

[@MegaBanne]

Why?

[@baguettedepain3975]

@@MegaBanne No idea either. Quality of recording is bad as fuck. The musicians Parker play with are nothing to be mentioned compared to the monsters he played with in his life. The solo is very good but as most of his solos are, so don't see the particular appeal here either. There are hundreds of Parker recordings more worthy to be sent than this one.

[@MegaBanne]

@@baguettedepain3975 Like I understand that this tune was where he began when he invented the bebop. But it is not even his original tune.

[@fredpg]

@@MegaBanne Can't you hear the musical ideas, the incredible swing, the way Parker links his phrases so they underline the chord changes perfectly, the beautiful melodies he creates as he goes without ever repeating himself? Listen again, improvisation doesn't get better than this little piece, just different. Pure genius at work.

[@bills48321]

@@MegaBanne It's just that good. My opinion, you can have your own opinion.

[@EvanWiederandersMusic]

For those of you who would like to transcribe his solo, here are the time stamps to each part. Any other time stamps can be a reply to this comment. *Chorus 1* A1 0:04 A2 0:20 B 0:35 A3 0:50 *Chorus 2* A1 1:05 A2 1:21 B 1:36 A3 1:52 *Chorus 3* A1 2:08 A2 2:23 B 2:38 A3 2:54

[@0pherSax]

1:36 is the best part

[@baileyayyy5085]

goated bridge @@0pherSax

[@nnommrr]

but but but if i want to transcribe the solo I I have to listen second by second waaaaaaaaaahhh

[@fabianvanderknaap2102]

the best part is only from 0:00-3:11

[@n.a.2946]

lol

[@freehat6894]

the best is actually 1:37-1:44

[@surfercrow]

August 29, 2020: Happy 100th Birthday, Charlie!

[@raulrichards412]

Happy 100 Years Anniversary "Charlie Parker" . On this is Anniversary, I went visiting is Place of Residence / Landmark Home in Greenwich Village, New York City @ 151 Avenue B (Charlie Parker Place) 1950 - 1954 ♫♪♫♫ (Tribute to Bird.)

[@TheAlmightyBassist]

That popeye lick at 0:45 always makes me laugh. Parker was brilliant.

[@HairBilly]

He used it often, right?

[@Thouveninpascal]

@@HairBilly No. "Hi society's Alphonse Picou clarinet solo, sure, but not that. Not right.

[@jimswordsnchords1759]

Hey, that's cool!

[@MHerreraMusic]

Still the best phrasing to ever improvise. So melodic and intelligent.

[@travismclaurin9419]

Especially for trumpeters. I agree.

[@baguettedepain3975]

True. Amazing phrasing. He has the spontaneity and lyricism that many beboppers after him lack.

[@MHerreraMusic]

Baguette Depain 💯

[@peterdonovan8710]

@@baguettedepain3975 In my mind only early Sonny comes close.

[@baguettedepain3975]

@@peterdonovan8710 Not the same instrument but respectable opinion.

[@mremerpus1]

"I could no longer bear the stereotypical harmonies that were then continually employed by everyone. I kept thinking that something else had to be different. Sometimes I could hear something, but I was not able to play it ... That night I did a long time on Cherokee. As I made it, I realized that using the melodic line the highest ranges of chords, putting them under new harmonies, quite similar, I was suddenly playing what I had felt inside of me all the time. Reward to new life. » authorized by the band Captian JB....

[@tommyt7566]

Rafiq Wadi You sucked, then got better.... Great!

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

Apparently Parker never actually said that.

[@marselmusic]

thanks bro. needed this for my essay!

[@ogdTo]

But don't forget the rythm, the "slang". It's insane.

[@chrissawyer4060]

Good read. Got more info? Tell me about when he showed up 8 bars into Sweet Ga Brown and killed.

[@klaus8456]

You can litteraly listen this on repeat for hours and still be amazed and excited with Birds playing.

[@spacemanbose]

lmfao @0:44 he quotes "POPEYE" theme...just great

[@johnsurs22]

He mixes in the quotes tastefully for sure. "Dardanella" toward the end

[@johnsurs22]

2:10 to be exact

[@bausin]

Sailor's Hornpipe.

[@nominalegg5865]

And at 00:50 Bird quotes Let's Fall in Love

[@nominalegg5865]

Also at 1:05 a quote from The Man on the Flying Trapeze ("he floats through the air...")

[@andrea22213]

The height of creativity. Here you are kid, just solo over these chords. This is why Charlie Parker is still so important.

[@MegaBanne]

What's so special about these chords?

[@baguettedepain3975]

@@MegaBanne Nothing. They're standard as they can be in a jazz tune.

[@MegaBanne]

@@baguettedepain3975 Well the A parts are very standard, but not the B part.

[@MaxBrinsterGuitar]

Electro-Cute This song is special because Charlie Parker would practice it in all 12 keys and due to the key changes in the B part it makes it a rather difficult tune for a horn player, as well as the speed it is normally played. Basically the A part is rather easy or natural on a Bb horn, so what you will find is that a lot of players can charge through the A section with ease but as soon As they get to the B section it becomes noticeably less fluent to the listener.

[@MaxBrinsterGuitar]

Electro-Cute But obviously charlie parker seemed to have no trouble with these changes even in his earliest recordings.

[@martinbe5111]

Literally sounds like a singing bird and this is entirely improvised. Blows my mind everytime.

[@fredpg]

It is a singing bird! Blows my mind each time too...

[@judybartha9021]

A a g. A d

[@brianzayman2228]

The human race cannot be so terrible if one of us created this.

[@TonyfromBham]

That guitar player is laying it down beautifully.

[@musicality8425]

Django style

[@alfrednawrocki8061]

I would say, very difficult to play.

[@oza8578]

This was 1942?? He already had his "sound"! Wow! He sounds so advanced compared to the rhythm section (although I love the band, too!), and even going into some pretty modern phrasing during the early part of his solo. Great stuff! First time I've heard this, and I've listened to a lot of Bird.

[@clyski]

he was 22 during this time. whenever i think of 22 year olds, i think of them as babies 😂😂😂 although a 22 year old Bird would influence almost a century of people

[@bring_back_dislikes]

@@clyski 22 year olds are adults. The human brain peaks at 25, afterwards cognitive decline begins. What the fuck are you talking about?

[@AdamHallacher]

@@bring_back_dislikes i think he means that jazz usually takes way more than 22 years of experience to become this influencial, congrats on knowing that fun fact tho

[@jamestoddguitar1433]

@@bring_back_dislikes woah, so much aggression in this comment!

[@TheJackBlast]

"Modern phrasing"? Isn't he a creator of modern phrasing?

[@fredpg]

Everything Bird plays makes so much sense, so fluid, so elegant, so beautiful.

[@baguettedepain3975]

Yes !

[@5hyguy42]

Hi Fred....

[@someguy957]

It's hard to believe that it's the centennial of Bird's birth because he died so long ago at an absurdly young age. To think that he might still have been alive and playing into the early 21st century...

[@01warmus]

Thousands of hours of listening to all forms of jazz, still a top 5 track ever for me. It’s a simple recording but there is nothing simple about the playing at all, start to finish perfection. Parker lays down the definitive version of Cherokee. It cannot get any better, just different.

[@ramaslamas7]

What's your top 5?

[@01warmus]

@@ramaslamas7 As a guitar player my perspective is a bit skewed, but in no particular order (also its 6, but I can't choose between them): I'll see you in my dreams- Django Swing to Bop (topsy) - Charlie Christian Autumn Leaves - Errol Garner concert by the Sea Old Devil Moon- Sonny Rollins live at Village Vanguard This version of Cherokee Chicago Blues- Oscar Peterson w/ Joe Pass and NHOP

[@MsFancho]

For me top 3.....

[@radilja1994]

I've listened Charlie Parker for 37years but this tune could be the best for me. The reason could be...he was still really young, and maybe less poisoned by drugs and alcohol. Because he was so genius, his plays stayed special and great enough. But many of his plays in later years are rough and never the best for Charlie Parker I think. Same as Bud Powell or Jaco Pastorius. When they became world wide known, they were already losing the best condition. But here, we defintely can recognize the pure, young, perfect, true "Charlie Parker" Real Genius!! I'm totally blown away.

[@monicabella7894]

Facts! Don't forget the great tune that makes it so special.

[@johncoffin9354]

Several times in his history, Bird at least partially cleaned up. After Camarillo, for the 'With Strings' project etc. His sound is quite different in those intervals. His work with McShann shows the same kind of ease and freedom he shows here. Not struggling against the horn, the layered sound without the harsh 'chirping' overlay.

[@spykid911]

The consequence of poisoning is a matter of opinion. No one necessarily plays better sober or high. Our lives are linear.

[@johncoffin9354]

@@spykid911 Heroin and alcohol are lethal poisons in large enough doses. Have you noticed that there are actual, real-life laws intended to keep people from driving while IMPAIRED with alcohol? By reputation, heroin does less to impair motor skills, which may account for some of its popularity with musicians.

[@spykid911]

@@johncoffin9354 Toxicology aside, none of that matters much. If life isn't linear I'll be a younger man, tomorrow.

[@charlierumoleboi3578]

I always feel this recording marked the birth of modern jazz. The Bird is almost fully formed. Can definitely hear the roots of Art Pepper in there too.

[@celticgodsoriginal]

This was it, the birth of bebop.

[@liamscott8135]

1:37 the lick has always sounded like great fairy fountain from legend of zelda

[@5hyguy42]

Like a tone deaf version yeah

[@5lender92]

They are both arpeggios, yes

[@luce.3560]

1:36-1:48 is truly the best part

[@kenfarmer1139]

It's nice alright - quite old style too, really.

[@CMR1767]

It is the best part

[@boppincloud2125]

I've listened to this tune 100s of times, literally every set of phrases could be the best.

[@fabianvanderknaap2102]

An amazing lick to be sure, yeah..

[@bills48321]

I love that part.

[@hecateswolf6007]

The Bird will fly forever

[@megisynynef2224]

This is pure magic.The way Bird just sails through that middle eight! He was truly incomparable. His music will inspire for ever.

[@monicabella7894]

Not magic! True genius!

[@charlieparkerjazzart]

a settant' anni di distanza questa interpretazione potrebbe risultare vecchia e stantia.......ma è incredibilmente fresca e coinvolgente,era un genio del suo strumento,moderno e dinamico,un vero fuoriclasse.......bird forever!!!!!! il miglior musicista del secolo!!!!!!!

[@michaelsammin9055]

An amazing achievement by the greatest sax player that's even blown. I can't begin to imagine what music would be like without Bird.

[@eddiewakes9425]

Mozart would have cried tears of joy and delight if he had the chance to hear Charlie Parker!!

[@mortweiss3151]

It never got any better!!!!! Just different-- - - m

[@badmouserising9859]

Just stoned af, this is amazing

[@jevonj77]

The genius of Charlie Parker.

[@acidbebop3593]

Parker was a beast. Nothing else can be said man

[@wolfinthesuit]

The highest of creativity in his musical concepts.

[@mickpenning6132]

It just lifts you up and carries you off to another place... And then it ends. Beautiful.

[@mortweiss3151]

And with the coming of each year- the tune got -faster-and faster-& FASTER-INTO KO KO! Mort

[@stephanomarr6829]

pure JAZZ music is TIMELESS message by Charles BIRD PARKER.....THE MASTER.....PS ENOUGH SAID ALREADY

[@aaronjaben7913]

Love you, Bird! From Kansas City, MO

[@mjsamm1]

A portrait of the artist as a young man.

[@robertmudrow8034]

Never got old

[@dvoncruse6262]

Great record to transcribe!

[@karlbachfan566]

an excellent solo -you can feel the coming genius

[@SELMER1947]

Hum not the coming genius, he was already there !

[@anthonyschneider3983]

I dig the guitar with bird...wish there were more recordings of bird with guitsr

[@metalband]

ya man so swingin

[@farshimelt]

That style of guitar playing is too restrictive for Be Bop.

[@villinbchillin2373]

there is quite a few recordings of

[@sean8190]

@@farshimelt gypsy jazz bebop

[@clancyconlin2760]

There 'his session. September 1942

[@jaywills5776]

As bad as the recording is, this take is probably my favourite solo (Dexter on Ladybird in Belgium is close second). Parkers solo here is flawless from every angle; impeccable phrasing, articulation and phrasing, incredible inventiveness, catchiness (if that's a word), and a masterclass in "building" a solo. Above all else, it's pure entertainment. I don't think any of his later solos (when the effects of drugs etc were beginning to take their toll) come even close to completeness of this solo. His subsequent recorded versions of Cherokee highlight this. This was Parker at his peak to my ears.

[@robertmudrow8034]

No, this was Parker moving towards greatness. He's still a swing player here. Soon the great leap forward happens and he shakes off what you like about this and is mind-blowingly fast and inventive. Bebop. That's not the drugs. That's despite the drugs.

[@tomdrawsstuffs6092]

@@robertmudrow8034 where would you put Parker at his peak? I’m curious to hear where you think that is

[@AK-vm6lw]

@@robertmudrow8034 This isn't a swing solo mate.

[@OwntoneFilm]

A true masterpiece.

[@verolopez6057]

That piece from 0:35 to 0:46 is the best jazz lick it work for almost anything.

[@lisetteelbers365]

I've been listening to jazz for 30 years... every time I hear Bird, I think not needing anything else to listen to ... but fortunately there's some good music made after his as well... :) yet still ... "amazing grace'!

[@mremerpus1]

YOU DOGS, can't impersonate cats!!!!

[@paolovidal3307]

every cool teacher i've had has said the best way to git gud is learning solos by ear so here i am guise what's your story

[@SELMER1947]

L'éclosion d'un génie de 22 ans....!!!

[@gebeall]

so beautiful, ... incomparable... no other words to describe it

[@TheRealSlickRick63]

Parker and Coltrane are equals. Parker being so much more listenable and accessible to the masses.

[@fluffshepnetwork7067]

I certainly agree that they are equals. The two greatest saxophonists ever, in my opinion. IDK about accessibility. They were both very much at the cutting edge of their respective eras and this created both great excitement and some apprehension among different factions of jazz listeners at their time. Still, it's very easy to appreciate them both today.

[@tlawengmophosho4848]

But Charlie parker was earlier and when Coltrane went to see his concert, he was not sure what it was and called it snake charmers music. I would include Sonny Rollins as a performer in that list.

[@yoelcapoful]

Coltrane was more avant garde, more expressive but both were top level musicians

[@jfmax2000]

The Bird... The Endless Improviser.. The Best Hands Down 💯💯

[@pendleburyable]

Playin the blues.

[@Melody_Mike.4460]

0:18

[@gregzermeno707]

This is a true find of Bird playing with only with a rhythm guitar and a great tune to play over!

[@migminu8400]

55 dislike ? Por favor !! No escuchen jazz !!!

[@easonfang9810]

Play the audio in 0.75 , everything( notes )is so balanced , gentle, beautiful…….

[@jornkleinbrahm2924]

This is incredibly beautiful! I like the early Charlie Parker. He was only 22 back then... :-D

[@owenfrazier5209]

Play this song at 1.25x speed to hear the tempo people play this song at today.

[@sasharipley1508]

+Owen Frazier put at 2x

[@owenfrazier5209]

+Sasha Ripley More like put it at 9001x today amirite

[@sasharipley1508]

Owen Frazier the song will be less than a second XD

[@5hyguy42]

Little too fast tho are you serious?

[@charlieparkerjazzart]

questa è classe!

[@phreakadelik21]

can't find this on spotify.. anyone know how it's titled on there?

[@willzang3000]

sometimes i wish hed play the melody str8 so i could learn it lol

[@bandicoot5412]

Amazing genius beyond the call forever and ever, amen. PS great comments.

[@brianzayman2228]

1:04 - How Dry I Am (was Bird drunk or on heroin when he played this?)

[@gcurioso1974]

Una joya de la musica universal: Cherokee !!! De aqui nacio el Be Bop

[@erginyilmaztenor]

I hear Lester sometime

[@juancpgo]

Gosh , absolutely amazing and gorgeous playing... this playing with the incredible expression in his face in the final picture just make me cry. What a human being. Thanks for uploading it.

[@sidneykomisar3244]

Bird LIVES

[@Flecone]

1:37 i rly love that part

[@isabelmaturana5769]

fabuloso Cherokee, con Bird.

[@nogoogleplus]

Awesome post thanks................Sounds like Efferge was a Django fan. :)

[@alexovenden8698]

It doesn't sound like Django to my ears, just like his rhythm guitarist. It was normal to play like this before rock and blues reduced everything to three chords.

[@jeepykay]

Guitarist sounds more like Freddie Green. Doesn't have "Le Pomp" going.

[@johnrothfield6126]

I thought the same thing about Django after listening to this. Remember that Coleman Hawkins and Django were tight in the 30s.

[@DistantLights]

I think 1:36 is the start of the famous bridge of Cherokee. Am I correct?

[@ckvlzlvxch]

idiotboxx999 you're right. also at 0:35 and 2:39. it goes 16 bars of melody then bridge then melody again, before repeating three times. bird shredded each one including the infamous bridge!

[@jedivideo6203]

2:36 is from Ellington's cotton tail Ben Webster solo

[@brianzayman2228]

I like this part of Parper's legacy. A mix of swing and bop

[@ianjones7388]

0:45 Popeye the sailor man

[@petemoss7587]

Who is this "Bird"?

[@casimir9185]

Bird was Charlie Parker's nickname and still is

[@petemoss7587]

@@casimir9185 you are correct. I was trying to play the jazz novice for a laugh. I have loved Charlie Parker for 45 years, as a trumpeter. As Dizzy said, to be or not to bop.

[@giuseppeacciaio5706]

concordo!!!......secondo me il rock ha cambiato troppo i gusti delle persone,non riconoscono piu' la vera qualita' della musica!!palchi giganteschi per celebrare artisti mediocri,trasmissioni su trasmissioni per parlare del NULLA!!!!...uno come Parker(e molto altri..)hanno creato la colonna portante di questo stramaledetto rock...mi viene da ridere quando sento sti chitarristi che pensano che sia stato inventato sul manico della chitarra la maggior parte delle soluzioni blues ahahahahahahaha!!!

[@liamscott8135]

Why isnt this on spotify??

[@Mus34679]

“Well that was nice, Charlie. Good job!”

[@nickknirk]

Are there more tracks from this session? I would love an album of this.

[@bennybaird2740]

Search “The Complete Birth of Bebop”, artist Charlie Parker. This was recorded in a private session in 1941 or 42. It doesn’t appear to be available on any major streaming service. I just ordered it from Discogs (it’s $80+ everywhere else) and am excited to hear the other tracks on the session, including Body and Soul!

[@Minnevan]

@@bennybaird2740 thank you!

[@nickknirk]

@@bennybaird2740 Thank you so much! Got one on order now.

[@brianzayman2228]

All his recordings fr this period are great, but in addition to this one the other standout is I've Got A New Baby

[@ethanhill9460]

Good grief.

[@marselmusic]

1:35

[@b1sing53]

Sounds fresh!

[@SELMER1947]

Unequalled 22 years genius

[@Ijgyhmg]

The Popeye quote easily makes this the best solo ever

[@0ph7-x7x]

Had to slow it down to 0.5 to understand what he was playing lol

[@margaritaaslanyan55]

Jazz is the music of those who can think for themselves.

[@HM55-77]

Thank you commenters ! I have learned a lot just reading here

[@kareleriksson9045]

This is pure magic.

[@katana7xv]

Mille grazie! Uno scoperto unreal! Adesso questo Cherokee raggiunge Slim's Jam nel mio Pantheon personal

[@taylorwhite1522]

It doesn't get much better than this

[@tunefultonyjohnson4100]

Never heard of Efferge Ware (guitar), sorry, but sounds rather like something that gipsy guitarist Django Reinhardt would have played......

[@chumleyshaver7942]

Yes, I'd thought the same thing, very "pomp" style strumming. Certainly could have been influenced by Django considering the era. Or maybe that was just the style at the time

[@leibelmusic916]

If I am not mistaken, it was Efferge who went with Bird to the Ozarks where he woodshedded, studied all the chords, and came back a different player. So a very important individual in the development of C Parker (though I could be mistaken)

[@leibelmusic916]

books.google.com/books?id=yuubqYxkRfYC&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=efferge+ware&source=bl&ots=9jDX9_Hy_k&sig=ACfU3U0CENTE6gATXEAQmhlQbCNO4-TxBw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjquovYn6XqAhVumeAKHfomDXw4ChDoATAFegQICBAB#v=onepage&q=efferge%20ware&f=false

[@microchabal69]

BIRD BIRD BIRD !!!!

[@mrdog66]

Seeing a lot comments on how easy this is or that most musicians can play II-V-I in all 12 keys. That might be the case, but can most musicians swing as hard as Parker is at age 22 or any age for that matter? I think not.

[@emmetfettig9196]

And did any of these people create this music?

[@cmg2544]

Better than koko

[@giuseppeacciaio5706]

devastante!!

[@sergiosilva6396]

Gênio!

[@raefblack7906]

Magic!

[@michelsalard1686]

quelle diction saxophoniste... pourquoi t'es parti BIRD ???

[@roderickberry2508]

Yes in deedy!!!!!!!!!!

[@shanekaras3964]

0:22 0:31 0:35 0:42 0:47 0:51 0:55 0:59 1:02 1:05 1:07 1:09 1:12 1:17 1:22 1:28 1:32 1:36 1:40 1:44 1:47 1:52 1:57 1:59 2:03 2:08 2:10 2:14 2:17 2:20 2:23 2:25 2:28 2:31 2:37 2:43 2:46 2:50 2:55 2:57 2:59 3:03

[@michaelmarshall55]

99% of the world (aka “the customers”) loves the version, while 1% (aka “professional musicians”) prefer the other : KO KO….

[@joohanlee2459]

One of the best jazz recordings I have heard!!

[@MsFancho]

True!

[@milest3560]

Bro how is this even possible?? How is a human being able to create such beauty? Everything he plays just feels so right. Everything he plays at anytime is so correct as is if there was nothing better to play at that moment. This recording in particular fills me with such nostalgia. Come on man. Its beautful to me that we can all congregate and agree. Its a pheneomon, everyone i know in the jazz community seems to feel this way. amazing man.