What do you like about Charlie Parker's playing?

**bobsguitars09** · 06-23-2016, 08:08 PM

Specifically

**Hep To The Jive** · 06-23-2016, 08:17 PM

No, what do YOU like about it?

**vintagelove** · 06-23-2016, 08:29 PM

His harmonic sophistication, "fire", sense of humor, and his CHOPS.

**neatomic** · 06-23-2016, 08:29 PM

fast, melodic, non repetitive, phrased perfectly, endless ideas & seldom a bum note..whats not to like?

even miles and coltrane had their share of clunkers...

cheers

**NoReply** · 06-23-2016, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by bobsguitars09

Specifically

Offline have talked to others about your questions, are you using this forum as lab rats for a research paper or these your homework question from your school?

Like Hep' said what do you like what aspect of Birds playing, or what have you learned from listening to him?

**Hep To The Jive** · 06-23-2016, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by NoReply

are you using this forum as lab rats for a research paper or these your homework question from your school?

That's what I thought! Not to say that some of those questions cause my brain short circuit lol!

**lawson-stone** · 06-23-2016, 09:33 PM

I like it that Charlie Parker seems to know of no technical barrier to saying what he wants to say on his horn. He just plays it. Like Joe Pass or Pat Metheny on guitar. They seem in complete mastery of the instrument to communicate any musical idea or feeling that they wish.

**bobsguitars09** · 06-24-2016, 01:16 AM

Would anyone recommend the Charlie Parker Omnibook?

**Thumpalumpacus** · 06-24-2016, 04:12 AM

His flow. Forgive my young-guy reference, but he played sax like a rapper spitting game, setting up musical rhymes inside a rhythmic cadence, and all the while taking the musical base to another place altogether.

And then he could switch it up, gear down and caress your ears, say, on "Leila".

**yaclaus** · 06-24-2016, 04:15 AM

sounds good when he blows

**Average Joe** · 06-24-2016, 05:48 AM

The sense of space.
There was always an arc to his playing.
That, and the brevity. I know this was largely down to the limitations of the recording format, but he managed to make great unified staments in the course of comparatively few bars.

**christianm77** · 06-24-2016, 08:12 AM

Rhythm & phrasing is the most advanced

**bobsguitars09** · 06-24-2016, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

Sit down. Get some recordings. Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, Art Blakey. Listen for yourself to what makes a good jazz drummer, the sense of lyric, syncopation, contrast of long notes and short notes, beat in the high hat, accent in the drumset toms and snares. Listen to them yourself bobsguitars09, and use your ears. Learn about what made jazz drumming different from other genres of the period and the swing period.
I listened a lot, asked few questions and the answers the MUSIC told me were much more comprehensive than anything I could have gotten from anyone else, any teacher, any book, or myself in a forum.
Listen with your ears. Music is not about words unless they're words that come from your own belief and experience.

I appreciate your curiousity, but parroting back my, I believe, relatively articulate explanation of the significant role of rhythm in Parker's music was as far as I can see from you and as far as I will go. I'm not out to convince you of a subjective assessment of Parker if you don't hear it, and you are ostensibly unconvinced.

Hey, feel free to tell me my opinions are groundless. Do form an opinion of the genesis of Bebop and whether rhythmic identity is important. I'd be more than happy to discuss this in dialogue.
Don't you hear rhythm in Parker? Do you like it? Discuss with me. Please.

David

you have mistaken my curiosity for malice. Thank you though.

**pkirk** · 06-24-2016, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus

And then he could switch it up, gear down and caress your ears, say, on "Leila".

"Laura"?

**grahambop** · 06-24-2016, 11:26 AM

He's a bit better than me.

TH · 06-24-2016, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by bobsguitars09

you have mistaken my curiosity for malice. Thank you though.

I think you've completely misread my post. Malice was the furtherst thing I read and my response was with the most generous and well intended thought. But I've removed my posts; I didn't realize they would be so misconstrued. I hope you get your answers.
David

**bobsguitars09** · 06-24-2016, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

I think you've completely misread my post. Malice was the furtherst thing I read and my response was with the most generous and well intended thought. But I've removed my posts; I didn't realize they would be so misconstrued. I hope you get your answers.
David

ok good. I am really just asking questions to gain a better understanding. I am glad you didn't misinterpret
anything

I like the part about listening for myself. I still have questions though.

**Hep To The Jive** · 06-24-2016, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus

His flow. Forgive my young-guy reference, but he played sax like a rapper spitting game, setting up musical rhymes inside a rhythmic cadence, and all the while taking the musical base to another place altogether.

And then he could switch it up, gear down and caress your ears, say, on "Leila".

'Leila, you got me on my knees...' (in noble British accent): O dear, yes, that's lovely! I didn't know it was Charlie Parker, how lovely indeed!

**NoReply** · 06-24-2016, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive

That's what I thought! Not to say that some of those questions cause my brain short circuit lol!

For giggles I did an internet search on the bobsguitarsXX and what I found if same vague, odd, questions going back to at least 2010 on other music sites. Curious.

**Hep To The Jive** · 06-24-2016, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by NoReply

For giggles I did an internet search on the bobsguitarsXX and what I found if same vague, odd, questions going back to at least 2010 on other music sites. Curious.

Creepy!

**bobsguitars09** · 06-24-2016, 01:57 PM

Not sure why a few people find questions they don't know the answers to "creepy" but okay

I guess one option to relieve your distress from lack of knowledge (I don't have the answers either that's why I ask) is to derail the topic all together by trying to discredit the poster of the questions you have no answers for. THAT is creepy

I REALLY hope you are never this condescending to your own students when they ask questions

**Hep To The Jive** · 06-24-2016, 02:52 PM

What's creepy? Read #5, it just sounds like you are trying to collect data for unknown purpose.

'What do you like about Charlie Parker's playing' is not a question anybody wouldn't have an answer for. Everyone can elaborate on that if they heard the music, including you. I can go on and on what I personally like about CP, but who wants to know and why?

**princeplanet** · 06-24-2016, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive

What's creepy? Read #5, it just sounds like you are trying to collect data for unknown purpose.

....

Huh? Sometimes when I ask questions, I could pretty well say the same thing about myself!

Does that make me creepy too?...

**bobsguitars09** · 06-24-2016, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive

What's creepy? Read #5, it just sounds like you are trying to collect data for unknown purpose.

'What do you like about Charlie Parker's playing' is not a question anybody wouldn't have an answer for. Everyone can elaborate on that if they heard the music, including you. I can go on and on what I personally like about CP, but who wants to know and why?

Ahhhhhhh ok.........

**studiotan** · 06-24-2016, 05:24 PM

If you are interested in someone else's insights on Parker by a player who has an excellent ear and deep knowledge of improvisation, Steve Coleman wrote a series of well known reviews of various Parker sides and focused particularly on the innovations and impact of drummers like Roach on Parker's music. This has been linked to multiple times in other threads, but if you can't find them here is the link: THE DOZENS: STEVE COLEMAN ON CHARLIE PARKER ? Jazz.com | Jazz Music? Jazz Artists? Jazz News

(I see there are some deleted posts, sorry if this already got covered and was removed)

Anyway a good jumping off point for your own listening.