Charlie Parker:1920-1955. Charlie “Bird” Parker was one of the founders of post-war jazz and one of its pre-eminent innovators. What Parker did for alto saxophone improvisation not only influenced countless sax players, but other instrumentalists as a whole. The leader of the bebop revolution played with pure velocity - focused, forceful, and cutting, exemplifying a free form of expression. A cult following worshipped his every note and even interpreted his notoriously self-destructive lifestyle as hip. Parker more than anyone represents the true complexity and inspiration of bebop jazz.

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