Paul Desmond interviews Charlie Parker 1954

[@robertd8351]

It must have been intimidating and daring for Desmond to ask some of these questions. Parker always answers honestly, without any apparent restraint. An open book. Which must be a sign of respect for Desmond's talent. Good to hear. That is something that I never hoped to hear, how Parker was opened to other musicians, not in a competitive way and even outside the jazz idiom. He really comes out as a very likeable man, passionate about his music and curious about other's. The genius that most recognize as the best of the last century. I am moved by that interview.

[@learn2playjazz]

Hi Robert, yes I couldn't agree more. He comes across so well and I was also really pleased to hear the mutual respect from two very different sounding alto players. The media (then and now) would have us believe they were such rivals and adversaries. But what really struck me was hearing Parker's voice, its a real treasure of a recording.

[@beaujac311]

It's easy to think of Bird as a junkie who was a music genius. When you hear him speak in this interview, you no longer think of him as a junkie.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

I disagree. He was so accustomed to using junk that he was able to carry on a conversation in a more or less normal manner not unlike some alcoholics.

[@beaujac311]

@@charleswinokoor6023 Naw you don't ever get used to using junk. It becomes your master and no one wants to be beholden that. Bird told all those musicians that heroin did not make him a genius, practice did.

[@TheAaronRodgersTao]

I’ve never heard his voice until now… I felt like I was in that room with him… God bless them

[@stephaniebarron52]

Edgard Varese and Charlie Parker, those two working together might have rearranged the laws of physics and metaphysics.

[@learn2playjazz]

Yes indeed!

[@VisualSOLUTIONSMedia]

Priceless!!! The 11-15hrs of practice a day for 3 to 5 years story, "those are the facts ". "Modesty will get you nowhere". Thank you for this piece of history!

[@ericdreizen1463]

The King being interviewed by his subjects. That deep voice of his, articulate, profound - unforgettable!

[@furtherdefinitions1]

Paul Desmond was respectful, but no subject. Paul had his own approach and sound. One of the few who didn't copy Bird.

[@MikeBravos]

This brought tears in my eyes... Unsurpassable!

[@jerryzabin]

WOW!!! This is AMAZING!! To actually hear Bird....such a marvelous history lesson...Thank you for posting this important audio...

[@jonathonkiner7415]

So much wisdom. I 'm really soaking this up.

[@winstonsmith8240]

What a humble, intelligent, smart,... genius. Rip sir. Thank you.

[@CT-Records]

"...myself, last 'n least," hillarious. Bird still is the baddest of the bad. American history, right here.

[@learn2playjazz]

Yes indeed!

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

Astonishing how often Lee Konitz (alto) gets overlooked in this discussion. LK forged a lasting rythmic conception with a flattened tone and using unusual cross-accents that was an alternative to Bird because Lee felt his life experience couldn’t assimilate a spiritual blues basis or Bird’s experience in Kansas. (Read Miles grooming up in St.Louis). It ended up with people thinking Lee was a Paul Desmond clone!! After all the the work Lee did to furrow an alternative rythmic path on the alto he end up being asked by club and college punters to play ‘Take Five’!!

[@Erschophone]

Yes, it could have been interesting But "Astonishing" ? C'mon! I don't think so... The Tristano disciples never give up!

[@christiangoossen563]

I can't listen to this and not smile.

[@learn2playjazz]

me too!

[@richc41]

Fantastic!

[@learn2playjazz]

Glad you like it!

[@TG-wy7ck]

Hi! Is this public domain? Thanks for uploading

[@The-KP]

Nice interview thank you

[@blex9125]

7:12 What a beautiful picture with Bechet

[@chelorec]

No wonder, I’ve always liked Paul Desmond’s playing: he was kind of unofficial student of the Master..

[@learn2playjazz]

Yes indeed. I think all the great players were also great (and life long) students of the music.

[@xxczerxx]

It's interesting, out of all other alto players Paul Desmond (seemingly after this interview) pursued a very different path. If you listen to his Live in Oberlin record with Brubeck (1953) he is evidently influenced by Charlie Parker and the bebop thing in his playing. However as time went on from there he completely developed this new "dry martini" sound. I think in some way he recognised Bird was already at the apex of what he basically invented.

[@ganazby]

Thanks for uploading this valuable audio.

[@rafaelclark1650]

Charlie parker one of the most innovative creative jazz players of his time way ahead of his time genius

[@tomrees4812]

I’ve always wanted to know what we was practicing for all those hours a day. From this it seems Klose was one. From a lot of the jazz improvisation methods available today you’d think it was endless patterns.

[@winstonsmith8240]

I think his main concept was to learn 'Cherokee' in all 12 keys, and make it sound as musical as he possibly could. Once more 'knowledgeable' musicians entered his life he was like a sponge, learned everything he could, and then took it to the next level. He was also very clever (really interested in quantum physics, and other 'intellectual' ideas), and of course, undoubtedly a genius. Which helps.

[@johnnyjackpot]

Thanks so much for this!

[@jackdolphy8965]

Yes Bird, indeed some youngsters came along - Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Patrick Bartley and 🎉🎊😎

[@redrubeNYC]

I always thought Miles dropped out of Julliard.

[@TheRealG2024]

He did. He said so in his own autobiography.

[@martygras378]

​@@TheRealG2024Why was Charlie saying Miles graduated from Julliard?

[@TheRealG2024]

@@martygras378 i have no idea because MILES said he dropped out and went to play with BIRD at mintons.

[@blex9125]

Imagine what he could have become if he went on to study in Europe

[@michaeldoxey1240]

He did not need Europe, Europe needed him. All you have to do is listen to all of the jazz musicians coming out of Europe playing Sax, they studied the master - Charlie Parker. Think before you write!

[@denominator208]

@@michaeldoxey1240 The humble jazz geniuses knew they had a lot to learn from the European masters - Parker, Bill Evans, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins sure did. That's why they were innovators. Todays American "masters" are all copycats of the earlier players, and have no appreciation for other kinds of music; they sound boxed and boring. That's why they will never be innovators. Why do you think Parker wanted to go to Europe to study? Was it just because he wanted to teach the dumb Europeans, out of the generosity of his heart? I'm guessing you're an American so you're forgiven for your lack of thinking.

[@chrismoller4272]

Sounds like he practiced 24 hours a day

[@guitargod6997]

Only 11 hours a day?

[@redrubeNYC]

11 to 15 he said

[@AMEER-114-]

​@@redrubeNYC I think he was being cute... Only 11? What a lazy slacker!

[@Yummynoodle12]

Miles did not graduate from Julliard 😂

[@SachaPerry-r5l]

Public service!