Archive for charlie parker

Bird – The Life and Music of Charlie Parker

Posted in Books with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 9, 2014 by David McInerny

IMG_4362Chuck Haddix, music archivist for the University of Missouri at Kansas City, has written a fresh and well-researched biography of local jazz legend, Charlie “Bird” Parker. It’s a short but thorough read about the Kansas City, KS native that transformed the alto saxophone into a juggernaut for musical change. The narrative covers Parker’s formative years in Mayor Pendergast’s rough and raucous Kansas City, MO during the Depression and Prohibition.

Here we learn of the young musician’s fascination for the jazz scene on 18th and Vine streets, his tenacity in breaking into the local scene, and how he honed his skills on the sax through long nights of playing with the regional greats in jazz. It was also on 18th and Vine where Bird discovered drugs and alcohol, habits which would dog him his entire career and end his life in its prime.

Charlie was tutored under the guidance of the Jay McShann Orchestra, where he learned to play swing standards and blues-based KC jazz. Quickly, he was wowing audiences with his quick and crisp 32nd notes, and capturing the attention of future national great Count Basie. But it was a trumpet player, Dizzy Gillespie, that was magnetized by Parker’s style, and together they launched what was known at the time as the “moderns,” who eventually developed the next evolution in jazz style, Be-Bop.

The influence Parker had on jazz within his lifetime and beyond is profound. His stardom took him around the continent and ultimately to New York, where his star soared. His protege’s were numerous, but none more faithful than another young trumpet player by the name of Miles Davis. Davis continued to blaze the trail forged by Bird until he in turn introduced the next phase in jazz styles – Cool Jazz.

This is an essential book for the music lover about a Kansas City icon, written by a local author who interviewed extensively those who played and lived with Charlie Parker, and uncovered history about him that is in print for the first time. Chuck Haddix was kind enough to personalize my copy of his book with the following greeting: “To David, I hope you enjoy this study in ornithology. Bird lives! Chuck Haddix, August 16, 2014.” I enjoyed the study tremendously.

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Easy Listening

Posted in Music with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 17, 2014 by David McInerny

IMG_0318Every so often it’s cathartic to ratchet down the tunes to something easy on the ears, unchallenging but beautiful. I particularly enjoy softer music while I read, cook, or fall asleep. I often get caught in a rut though, and I make myself rummage through my collection for some dusty gem. If you get in a rut playing the same things, here are some suggestions:

Glen Campbell – Meet Glen Campbell (2008)  Campbell returns to his earliest, pre-Rhinestone Cowboy style (hence the tongue-in-cheek title) with a set of sparse, crisp covers. His version of Jackson Browne’s These Days becomes poignantly autobiographical, given his battle with addictions. This album is possibly his best.

Maxwell – Now (2001)  Low key, steamy funk, Maxwell’s falsetto is something to behold. Get To Know Ya starts the disc with an open-the-wine sexiness that moves through every song.

Van Morrison – Poetic Champions Compose (1987)  Van’s most jazzy effort, and while his voice is at it’s peak on this disc, it also includes three gorgeous saxophone instrumentals. I Forgot That Love Existed is my personal favorite in all of Morrison’s body of work.

Mazzy Star – Seasons Of Your Day (2013)  Long time darlings of the indie scene, Mazzy’s most recent work is very creative without any loss of the sultriness Hope Sandoval’s voice that fans have come to expect.

Brian Eno – Thursday Afternoon (2005)  The originator and king of ambient music, Eno delivers a single, 60 minute instrumental song just perfect for background music at a dinner party or something to nap to.

Frank Sinatra – Sinatra At The Sands (1966)  Recorded at the height of his powers at the coolest club on the planet at that time, Sinatra oozes confidence as he chats with the crowd between delivering definitive versions of classics like One For My Baby and Got A Crush On You.

Boz Scaggs – Memphis (2013) I’m very wary of “comeback” albums, but this is a wonderful set of songs from an artist who’s voice and guitar skills are undiminished. The slow groove is intoxicating, exemplified by Boz’s masterful cover of Steely Dan’s Pearl Of The Quarter.

Keith Jarrett – Six Sonatas For Violin And Piano (2013)  The master of live jazz piano improv, Jarrett shows off his classical training with a stunning and fresh look at Bach’s sonatas.

Bryan Ferry – As Time Goes By (1999)  Frontman for Roxy Music known for his cool vocal vibrato and for performing in a tux, Ferry sings 15 songs from the golden age of movies, including the title song, The Way You Look Tonight and You Do Something To Me.

The Quintet – Jazz At Massey Hall (1953)  The only time these giants of jazz played together, this concert in Toronto is considered by experts to be the greatest recording in jazz. Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus and Max Roach are pure honey on this historic work.

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