Charlie Parker Interview

Charlie Parker Interview Paul Desmond
/ timgreenmusic
timgreenmusic.com/

[@aceventura9292]

I'm a music student-our regiment is 6 hours a day, at a conservatory level. 11 hours...a...day....is commitment beyond anything at a college level. This man's love for his craft is beyond comprehension . Charlie, say hi to my dad for me in heaven. I know you are both there.

[@jefolson6989]

His lips must have been a bloody mess practicing 11 hours. Just seems physically impossible!

[@davidmdyer838]

That's the kind of time Indian musicians put in.

[@jeffreycraven8154]

Ace, music conservatory will drive any jazz out of you. I thru up my hands after 1/2 a semester of music theory; such training will suck true improv skills right out of you. 3 to 4 hours per day of practice is enough.

[@rxw5520]

This was when he was between about 14 and 18 years old, the magical age range when you can focus solely on one thing 100%. He wasn’t doing it cuz he had to, like a student studying for a test. He must’ve enjoyed it and must have been striving toward something in his head, some goal you can only focus on so purely when you’re that young, living with your parents with no life responsibilities. Hendrix was similarly rumored to fall asleep as a teen with his guitar in his hands and wake up and begin playing more. Got to thank Charlie’s mom for not kicking his ass out the door at age 14 to go work some menial job for peanuts.

[@TheUKMikey]

​@@rxw5520 or even salt peanuts

[@604460]

This is the real Charlie Parker: articulate, intelligent, a sophisticated human being who was a professional in every way.

[@patriciagullickson2046]

?... ok

[@nate_kang]

...too bad drugs destroyed his life and made him a mess. True musical genius

[@tobbebergman7583]

@@nate_kang More like bad alcohol !

[@davidmdyer838]

He sure doesn't sound like a junkie.

[@ReubenStump]

@@tobbebergman7583 He was a heroin addict.

[@hughmanatee7657]

“I want to study more. I’m not quite through yet.” He died about a year later at 35. Words can’t express what was lost...

[@morlvol]

He was 34.

[@AjarSensation]

maybe the bad habits had their effect on it

[@fabricliver]

Imagine travel back in time a give him a lifetime support of pantoprazol and ranitidine 😢

[@pvelectric]

To me this interview is the greatest post ever put on KZbin.

[@davidbarreto9510]

It is.

[@davidhadley370]

I second that emotion... I've always had Charlie Parker in my list of idols.

[@WellseeTheend]

@@davidhadley370 saw Bird and fell in love. Wasn’t raised on Jazz but I’m falling in love in my fifties. I love Thelonious Monk also

[@brainchildroy1]

Samesies! 🤣

[@mrperryjthomas]

For those who are totally unaware of who the interviewer is......it is the great Paul Desmond himself. Another giant of the alto sax,who while in seeming awe of Bird... developed his own style in a completely original manner. In this interview,he sounds a little nervous talking to Parker. But I'm sure he cherished his meeting with him,like a little kid meeting his favorite pro sports hero. I believe Parker and Desmond are in the top 10 all time modern jazz alto players. You can hear the respect Paul had for Bird,and Bird seems totally at ease with Desmond. A truly informative and historical interview..preserved for all of us on KZbin.

[@slljarvis]

they each have beautiful speaking tones, just like their playing! magical

[@tunefultonyjohnson4100]

Well, Paul Desmond played the alto saxophone for the Dave Brubeck Quartet, right? -- I had no idea that he had ever interviewed Charlie Parker......

[@luvmyrecords]

I understand that Bird loved Desmond because he himself was so unique.

[@albertbrown359]

Bird is unique along with the originators of African American Classical music. BUT WE don't rate them numerically,we just delve into the spirits of the moments.

[@gauchegaucho]

Bird is God and Paul is Jesus xD

[@mahoose6]

I can hear the age in Mr. Parker's voice, yet he passed away at only 34... it's hard to imagine what he had to live through in those days. Thank you for posting this interview, it is great.

[@marselmusic]

its also the quality of the recordings.. its sad tho

[@AjarSensation]

heroin

[@ej2333]

Charlie is considered the greatest saxophone musician, but yet he talks about studying in Paris. No matter how much of a "Master" you are, there is always more to learn. A true genius is someone who is humble and always willing to learn their craft.

[@merkinmuffy5715]

Charlie Parker had the voice of silk! What a beautiful baritone voice! Today, he'd be doing voice overs on commercials.

[@supersalsa9491]

This is bone chilling. Hard to believe someone so great could ever exist

[@cavaleer]

Some youngster would come along........John Coltrane.

[@robertodelllicsw8729]

+cavaleer Sonny

[@BopWalk]

Lou

[@nefarioustrumpet]

+cavaleer davis

[@stephenrcarnefix8239]

i heard they'd give trane a hotel room way away from anybody else if they could ... 'cause he'd practice, and practice, and then he'd practice some more ...

[@safwannizam2932]

lol that's like when The Beatles heard Led Zeppelin for the first time, and someone (I think Lennon) says "And a kid called John Bonham on drums."

[@americanslime]

I always admired Charlie Parker as a musician. This interview really makes me admire him as a human being. Obviously his life isn't exactly one that should be emulated, but he loved his work so, so much and was so dedicated to it. It also does a lot to demonstrate how conscious his creative decisions were.

[@bill3837]

yea go with the good aspects. as a musician i listen to there music

[@RudeBoy-hx1fn]

how could anyone hate someone who plays so beautifully and originally?

[@nakim55]

Easy for racists.

[@waltgdrums1]

I still have my cassette tape recording of this I taped off the air via WKCR in the 70's

[@nastynate838]

really ?

[@Flux799]

@@nastynate838 I’m going to make a cassette hard copy of this interview and bury it somewhere for those in the distant future.

[@gatchization]

such a deep, mellifluous speaking voice. i could listen to bird speak all day.

[@skimanization]

I always heard a lot about Charlie "Bird" Parker from the books and other jazz musicians, I never thought I would hear him talking so beautifully about music and his experiences as a musician. Paul Desmond has done a great job for this legendary interview, I'm sure he foresaw the value it would bring in future for his fans, old and young, musicians and non-musicians. One of my favorites from his many compositions is "Parker Mood." I heard that he was always a good speaker, full of knowledge, very humble, and very encouraging to the young musicians and the lover of all. One can hear that from the tone of his voice and how he answers the interview questions. I loved both men;s saxophone tones and improvisational ideas and originality and this interview is like a coincidence for me. Thanks.

[@veli-pekkahaanmaki1351]

Andile Meshack there are lots of books written about parker, like "bird lives" by ross russel.he just wanted to make money ,like he did when he made bird work for his dial records when bird was seriously ill.He just too advantage of bird like many people did,bird was an easy target because of his addiction.there are some good books written about bird by people who knew him and they give completely differeny picture of bird which i strongly believe is right: very sensitive,human intellectual.And a musical genius just like mozart was.A guy like this lives in racist society and has to play in night clubs.That takes its toll.I mean just listen him play,that tells you how he really was,no liar books needed.i'm sure bird did some nasty things in his life,so who doesnt?.that is NOT important,nor is his drug& alcohol addiction.His music is important.That is what he gave to us,his genius which is still underrated because it so out of this world that most people in this world will never get it because they don't want to study it.it is not bigmac meal you can just consume and forget about it,throw it away.Bird was diagnosed "paranoid schitzophrenic" by western medical science. Science my ass! So was some many peole who contributed so much arts: coltrane,mingus,bud powell, van gogh etc.Its like we are offered the greatest things world can give and we reject them and prefer the shit music moneymakers try to forcefeed us, succesfully,sory to say.It is very sad most people are still not ready for the finest things world has to offer.

[@BlackDarkerthan]

Hearing the legend talking, not playing, for the first time here ...for me, is mind blowing. One builds up a 'picture personality' about anyone -banal or genius, from whatever they do for a living or what art form they've taken up; and that becomes a sort of template... buried within one's psyche. So when a moment like this comes along, out of the blue -no one said 'hey Mick -you ought to listen to the Charlie Parker interview'..... After 50 years listening to only his music, so eloquent..

[@Alanoffer]

It’s amazing to hear his voice , we know the voice of his horn . He was such a modest man when you consider what he achieved in music , it’s a tragic he died so young

[@struttingbirdlofi]

Yeah his horn is like this crazy little guy buzzing around the room and he is like a chill Buddha. Amazing the contrast.

[@barryo5158]

Pure gold here. Fantastic!

[@robchalfen]

Boston radio, c. Jan. 1954 - WCOP, I think this is all that survives of the broadcast, so far as I know Likely recorded at the station by engineer John McClellan, who also worked on live Bird club remotes in Boston from the Hi Hat and Storeyville

[@robchalfen]

WHDH, actually

[@DjentleBard]

I've spent so much of my life dedicated to studying Parker's music. I'm sitting here in tears, hearing his voice for the first time. Thank you so much for this. His humility in this interview, whether it be drug-driven or not, is astonishing.

[@displacedsaxophonist]

This blows my mind. The depth of his intellect is stunning.

[@jazzman1954]

Eloquent. Intelligent. Educated. Wonderful to hear the man behind the music.

[@eleisonchristie8130]

Bird is indeed the Eagle of all Jazz

[@villinbchillin2373]

no he’s a sparrow

[@Ewerb7]

One giant being interviewed by another. Paul Desmond is one of the all time greats. Bird is perhaps the greatest of all time (along with Coltrane). Just to hear their voices is incredible.

[@GodInTheMachine]

+Ewerb7 well put

[@bcdrummer1962]

Bird IMO = GOAT

[@brianwiese4367]

Interesting to think that, as a teenager, Bird attempted to solo at a jam and was rung off the stage by Joe Jones. All that practice (& a touch of genius) certainly paid off.

[@lkjklkjlkjkl2902]

"my primary interest is learning to play music" ahh what a pure statement

[@bandicoot5412]

Absolute greatest artist interview.

[@vieasbeauty189]

Charlie was highly intelligent. This is my first time hearing his voice. ❤

[@msbcheet6041]

A voice like rich baritone silk

[@algail44]

Amazing that this interview was conducted approx. a year before his death. He sounds so strong one would never know how ravaged his body was at the time

[@MattSmith-iq1ld]

It may not be fully understood through this interview, but Parker was a man of great intellect. He was tremendously well read, and all the musicians surrounding him commented that he had a genius level of intelligence, despite his mythic drug use. One musician in Burns' Jazz documentary said that Bird was so smart he could even discuss nuclear physics. He was known for being able to fix people's cars that had broken down outside of clubs. He was a remarkable person. People must remember that he became a drug addict at a very, very young age. He was in a terrible accident that nearly killed him, and he was in the hospital for months receiving morphine. I have no doubt that his injuries carried with him his entire life. So a lot of the jazz guys who followed Bird who felt Parker's heroin use is what propelled him to greatness were mistaken. He didn't take dope for creative reasons. He took it for personal and emotional pain.

[@Istari_01]

Great to hear that snapshot in time. Birds music speaks forever. 'And those seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who couldn't hear the music'.

[@thetriumphofthethrill2457]

Fascinating old soul guy. Priceless.

[@chrisjones2412]

Like discovering a recording of Mozart interviewing Beethoven!! The man himself. Only on KZbin.would we get to see this.

[@jefolson6989]

Thats an apt analogy although Mozart and Beethoven were CREATIVE artists 1st and performing artists second. Parker 'composed" on the spot, in real time. In my opinion what we call BEBOP is a style that was invented and largely exclusive to Bird. Its what he played- others tried to copy it with varying degrees of success but unless its Bird, it sounds artificial OR it sounds like someone copying Bird. (to me anyway). Desmond is one of the small handful of alto sax players who developed his own sound (Others might be Koonitz and Art Pepper). The others were under Parkers shadow. I know Sonny Stitt was criticized for copying him, although part of that is just the range. Tenor sax players became the most common sax, I think to avoid such comparisons. Like when Miles Davis got known for using a mute, other players dropped it or they were acused of copyimg Miles. I have great respect for all jazz musicians, but only Charlie deserves the title of genius( A word i use seriously- Einstein, da Vinci, maybe Edison , possibly Picasso). His voice and vocabulary proves he was sophisticated far beyond his years, education, and circumstances of his early life. Once in a hundred years. Miles was very influential and important in jazz history - but he isnt in Bird's unique category. Art Tatum may have had similar technical abilities, but not the originality or invention

[@petecornell2605]

You have it backwards...Mozart was the Bird of the 18th century,and the baddest of them all...in the big leagues at 5 years old and playing,improvising, and creating for 30 years. When Beethoven first left home @ 17 to seek his musical future, he went straight to Mozart’s front door.

[@davidmdyer838]

Beethoven and Mozart were both PRIMARILY known as improvisers, as was Bach. It's only through today's lens that we think of them mostly as composers. And this is more like a young Beethoven interviewing the soon-to-burn out Mozart who was the big drinker and over-indulger who couldn't get his shit together. Paul Desmond was no Beethoven though.

[@struttingbirdlofi]

Charlie Parker = Mozart, John Coltrane = Beethoven

[@dstatay5172]

Great document! Miles Davis autobiography brought me here. Around min 12 Bird says that Miles graduated from Juliard but in his autobiography Miles tells how that school would not teach him what he need it so he quit before graduating. He says that jamming with all those young jazz musicians at that time in NYC was what he need it to evolve his style.

[@mortweiss3151]

Man! This great J.S. Bach and bird were the two baddesr mother fuckers (musicaly) that EVER LIVED!!! What a treat-thank you -whom ever ---Tim Green? wow!!!!

[@DouglasREwart]

A great bassist furnishes: melody, harmony, rhythm, double stops, textures and more. All instruments are limitless in what they are capable of rendering. It really depends on the imagination, mentality and skill of the player. Drums and many other instruments can do so as well. When we listen to great players, it is astonishing what they can coax out of their instrument/instruments.

[@deniaridley]

Absolutely! Well said.

[@renhoek3851]

Such a beautiful speaking voice

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

Where the hell has that been hidden. I’ve just ordered Miles’ autobiography. I dont think Miles was that comfortable with bebop. But Miles really knew jazz in a critical way. I love Bird. Lee Konitz too who emerged at the same time formulating a different approach to solo construction otherwise Lee thought he’d get sucked into Bird’s orbit. Everyone mimicked Bird. Lee wanted to avoid that. We can forget how influential Lester Young was and Lee came from Prez. But Bird was so pure. The beauty and tragedy and fun or mischief in his playing. Bird lives.

[@jameshall7632]

"schooling:(one of) the most wonderful thing(s) there has ever been"; shoul be engraved at the entrance of every public school in the country, and Charlie Parkers story should be included in every U.S. History book.

[@patriciagullickson2046]

u dreaming

[@nakim55]

America, could care less about bird, not enough brain cells. 1/2 the country thinks trump is a genius, sad.

[@johndowns3839]

Can you imagine what would have come out of Bird working closely with Varese? I wish that could've happened.

[@cavaleer]

11-15 hours a day boys and girls....there's your SECRET!

[@pvelectric]

"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" asked the 1950s New Your tourist. "Practice my boy, practice."

[@luvmyrecords]

Greg Tibbits That joke has been attributed to Dizzy Gillespie - I want that to be true.

[@ziruini5071]

cavaleer Probably one of the reasons he died at 34, too

[@grewalparminder2003]

An unhealthy obsession u mean?

[@ziruini5071]

yea

[@edepillim]

Bird is so eloquent. Wish there were more interviews of him.

[@JazzRockswithAdam]

THIS....IS.....AWESOME!!! I've heard the same thing about Dizzy talking to Miles on the phone on how to play over a min7b5 chord when they were well into their senior years. They never stopped learning music. Bird was the same. And it's cool to hear Charlie talk about studying with Edgard Varese in Europe.

[@ovwinden1282]

And silence (at 4:15) is all that remains after that magnificent statement about schooling. "It's like a good pair of shoes when you put a shine on it". Love this bit of history. Thanks for uploading this. Love hearing the masters talk!

[@RogelioEscobar]

Paul asks about a lick....from the Klose Book. Paul was a classically trained musician and conservatory saxophonists studied out of the Klose Book and other technique books. I forget the exact title of the Klose book he mentioned but I used it in college too. Thats hip that Paul and Bird both used it. I mean its like using the Joe Viola books now I guess....but then there was no "jazz" technique books, just "traditional" technique books. This is awesome.

[@bill3837]

its obvious to me that bird knew his scales and music theory .

[@bigeman25]

That was a fantastic interview. The Bird as I have never before, Thank you for this great piece of history.

[@juewettbostick9202]

My confession. I had no idea he was so well spoken and engaging when interacting with others. Also he appears to be a practical joker with a good sense of humor. (see him with Coleman Hawkins) Other video clips and the BBC documentary provide a better image of the person behind the myth the media put forth. This interview is a valuable posting that tells more about him than the Hollywood production.

[@ajaben]

Yes, He was very well-read and articulate...able to converse on a wide range of topics. He even shared tea and crumpets with Albert Einstein while discussing his theory of relativity. True story.

[@patriciagullickson9591]

Juewett Bostick what !! Einstein ... when and where?

[@Gl6619]

Yeah, the film that Eastwood did really didn't capture his intellect at all, the portrayal was more about his drug use and the effect of that. I don't remember one line from that film that made Charlie Parker seem the least intellectual.

[@MattSmith-iq1ld]

Wynton Marsalis said that all the musicians who played with Bird said he was incredibly well read and without question had a genius level of intelligence. One of the musicians in Burns' Jazz documentary talks about Bird being able to discuss nuclear physics. He was incredibly smart, and there is even some thinking that one of the reasons why he had such an issue with drinking and dope is that he had a hard time being able to relate to people. That he felt incredibly isolated and was in many ways a man before his time.

[@aidan9]

maybe y'all should stop assuming black people only speak like the minstrel show, crime characters you see on TV and y'all will stop being so surprised. I know you meant your comment to be taken in kind but it gets very tiring to see "he's so articulate" over and over again when black guys do nothing more than string a couple sentences together. It's so terribly patronizing.

[@da19lila38]

A great many thanks for the precious and rare post. It's a real gift!

[@anotherluckyone]

Wow, wonderful to hear this. It's a real slice of history. Many thanks for posting.

[@Mylttlepwny543]

It's amazing to see two of the best alto players of all time casually conducting an interview

[@robertkrohn9385]

Means so much to us as musicians, it’s incredible to hear him speak. “I’d like to study some more” humble legend…

[@cavaleer]

Have to thank Paul Desmond for interviewing The God....

[@Wheelly1]

cavaleer haha, Charley says he isn't too old to learn something new...he was hardly feeling himself God

[@saxpianotutorial7572]

Desmond talked to God everytime he speaked to himself

[@struttingbirdlofi]

Man words can't describe how much this guy means to me.

[@BlackDarkerthan]

I'd like to get hold of the whole interview -with the tracks they play and discuss.... unedited. Such a humble man; real, both feet firmly on the ground... focused. A tragedy.

[@CadillacL]

Thanx for posting this. Awesome to hear the voice of the master.

[@nongkhiew]

I am stuck to hear he planned to get back to a musical school (in Paris!) after all those years of masterpieces!

[@runawayhorsesmusic]

legends both....AMAZING!

[@codex3048]

Charlie is so relaxed and polite.

[@duckman531]

What a thoughtful, intelligent person! With a speaking voice like honey!

[@kennybradshaw2122]

Excellent.

[@jackmackbouterooney]

Thanks so much Tim for posting the interview, so filled with revelations about Paul Desmond's relationship with Bird, and Bird's sublime maturity. Inspiring to hear Bird say he'd practiced 15 hours a day for years, that he still wanted to study--with Edgard Verese!--and to keep learning. Just imagine how enriched music would have been if Bird had not destroyed himself by 34, had actually seen his desire come to fruition. Bird gave so much, and could have given so much more. Myron Schwartzman, piano

[@msbcheet6041]

SUPERB historic interview

[@TONEBHURT]

Yardbird the great, Paul Desmond too! Thanx for post.

[@merkinmuffy5715]

Genius interviewing genius. What's not to like???

[@bill3837]

i like both of them

[@anthonytilleman3576]

This man is one of my greatest heros (not in the form of music but I wish to this day) in the prime example of sheer ambition to one's passion and that is him.

[@davidmaslow399]

Parker was a brilliant genius! Listening to him speak..

[@rgkiether099]

I love that picture of Bird & Bechet.

[@stangetz534]

Man Pual Desmond plays like a god and he is talking to Charlie Parker like Parker is a god.

[@funkysax2002]

What an inspiration this man was. Sounds like a real gentleman too!

[@122112guru]

his eloquence & memory recall(steel trap mind),truly astounding...Heroin addict or not.just like John hendricks said in KB's JAZZ...HUGE MIND...LIKE THIS(Widens his hands).

[@baconlatte]

Maybe my two fav sax players. Legends. Both so respectful.

[@theprocastination9697]

Today, August 29th, Bird turns 100 yo.Thank you, Charlie, for tour love for music, your discipline, and share It with the world!!! Your memory will ever survive while human kind it's still around. BEBOP

[@vasilkaivanovatoncheva9389]

Всяка музика има своя жанър,но на музикантите джазмени,джаза е въплътено чуство на солиста ,изпълнител,които ни превзема със своите качествени изпълнения на легенди на музикалното поприще на всички времена завинаги.❤❤❤

[@RafikCezanneTV]

Bird was way ahead of his time. Thanks for posting!

[@frafilipoart4082]

Charlie Bird and Paul Desmond. Wtf, coolness overload. This is the best interview ever.

[@clarkewi]

This is awesome. Both are legends.

[@josephbarclayross6216]

A gentleman, a prankster, an intellectual, an artistic genius, and a towering and indestructible fountain of passion. There will never be one like him again.

[@Da_Publick]

I'm glad someone cleaned this up. The original interview had a lot of noise and distortion, as would be expected from something this old.

[@abmrl14]

This put a voice to my most favorite musician's, thank you

[@johnniepaul685]

Wow! Thank you for sharing this gem.

[@locadisa]

wonderful to hear him speaking. I felt like i was in the room and he was speaking directly to me. we have to stop the spread of substance abuse. It has tarnished and ended so many lives. Wasnt old enough when Bird died.I would have said the same thing then.Amy Winehouse,,say hello to Charlie "Bird" .

[@theopaopa1]

maravilloso escuchar sus voces, gracias, mr. paul desmond

[@allen6924]

I would have loved to hear the tunes interspersed through the interview. But never get tired of hearing my heroes speak in their own voice. And explain what they thought and felt about their achievements and fame.

[@michaelmccowin298]

So sad to hear first hand how much more he wanted to do, and he would have.

[@tttzzz1957]

Such a gentle man

[@thinkpad20]

What a treasure, thanks for posting. I'm guessing from the dates that Bird never got that chance to go study in Europe. :( What might have been...

[@247hdjazz]

Bird remains the 'word'! #1!

[@TonyMiceli]

This is great! A real insight in the Parker's mind!

[@sclogse1]

Perfect late night sounds. I just finished a fast bio book on Stan Levy, and this is dessert. Stan has great stories.

[@Alanoffer]

Nobody in fifty years has come along,,,,Charlie extraordinary ,,

[@robchalfen]

Boston radio early '54, from "Bird's Eyes, Vol. 8" cd, Philology W80.2, which also has 3 tracks w Kenton from 28 Feb. 54

[@MrAnderswt]

So interesting to hear from a musician´s standpoint.This is a proper interview.Thanks.

[@TheFunkyKingston]

Mad "hard boper" Charlie Parker or just "Bird" and the King of Slow Paul Desmond.Love them both!

[@MightyTenor]

Fantastic interview- I wonder, had Bird lived, if he really would have worked with Varese and gone to Paris. Imagine the possibilities!

[@mastercadillactus]

Wow, excellent interview! Thanks for posting-

[@jaywills5776]

25 or 50yrs have passed, and we're still waiting.

[@nongkhiew]

He sounds very humble and down to earth man. Nothing like a junkie everybody said he was.

[@rkgrant]

paul desmond is pleasant to listen to...sounds like Bird enjoyed speaking to him

[@settinger14]

Wow - Thank you for posting this!!

[@sammyjackson5319]

rest in peace my brother, may God bless your soul..

[@monkface]

Holy crap what a revelation! I've never heard him speak so much. Just occasional mumbling on record or that video of him accepting an award or some live stuff. Amazing. I'm moved!