Parker is commonly considered the greatest bebop jazz musician. In terms of influence and impact, his contribution to jazz was so great that Charles Mingus commented that if Bird were alive today, he would think he was living in a hall of mirrors. Bird's talent is compared almost without argument to such legendary musicians as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, and his reputation and legend as one of the best saxophonists is such that some critics say he was unsurpassed.
A founding figure of bebop, Parker's innovative approach to melody, rhythm and harmony have exerted an incalculable influence on jazz.. Several of Parker's songs have become standards of the repertoire, and innumerable musicians have studied Parker's music and absorbed elements of his style.
Parker became an icon for the Beat generation, and was a pivotal figure in the evolving conception of the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual, rather than just a popular entertainer. At various times, Parker fused jazz with other musical styles, from classical (seeking to study with Edgard Varese and Stefan Wolpe) to Latin music (recordings with Machito), blazing paths followed later by others.
Parker was known for often showing up to performances without an instrument and borrowing someone else's at the last moment. At more than one venue he played on a plastic Grafton saxophone; later, saxophonist Ornette Coleman used this brand of plastic sax in his early career. On one particular occasion before a concert in Toronto, Canada, he had sold his saxophone to buy drugs, and at the last minute, he, Dizzy Gillespie and other members of Charlie's entourage went running around Toronto trying to find a saxophone. After scouring all the downtown pawnshops open at the time, they were only able to find a Grafton, which Parker proceeded to use at the concert that night. This concert is documented on the album Jazz at Massey Hall. The album is considered one of the greatest live recordings in Jazz history.
Parker's battles with alcoholism and heroin addiction ranged from his teenage years until his death from pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer at thirty-four. The toll that the drug had taken on his relatively young body was quite profound - a doctor examining Parker's body estimated him to be around sixty years old.
During his lifetime, tribute was paid to Parker when a new nightclub in New York was named Birdland in his honour in 1949.Three years later, George Shearing wrote "Lullaby of Birdland", which was named for both Parker and the nightclub.
Other phenomena also occurred in the United States after the death of Parker, particularly the use of the term "Bird lives" in graffiti throughout New York hours after his death, and later as the title of a contemporary art piece of the same name, created by sculptor Robert Graham in 1999. Despite its widespread use, Ted Joans is usually credited with its inception.
Cherokee
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't forget you, Cherokee sweetheart.
Child of the prairie, your love keeps calling,
My heart enthralling, Cherokee.
Dreams of summertime, of lover time gone by,
Throng my memory so tenderly, and sigh. My
Sweet Indian maiden, one day I'll hold you,
In my arms fold you, Cherokee.
The song "Cherokee" by Charlie Parker is a classic jazz tune that tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a Native American woman. The lyrics describe the man's intense feelings for the woman, whom he refers to as a "sweet Indian maiden" and a "Cherokee sweetheart." Despite the distance between them, the man cannot forget her and dreams of holding her in his arms one day.
The song evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia, as the man remembers the "summertime" and "lover time gone by." He recalls his memories of the woman and sighs, suggesting that these thoughts bring him both joy and sorrow. The melody of the song is haunting and beautiful, fitting perfectly with the poetic lyrics.
Overall, "Cherokee" is a timeless jazz standard that showcases the brilliance of Charlie Parker's musical genius. It captures the essence of love, longing, and the struggle to hold on to memories that are both beautiful and painful.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet Indian maiden, since first I met you,
I can't forget you, Cherokee sweetheart.
Since I met you, my dear Indian woman, I am unable to forget you, my love.
Child of the prairie, your love keeps calling,
My heart enthralling, Cherokee.
As a girl who was born and grew up on the grasslands of prairie, your love keeps calling me and enthralling my heart.
Dreams of summertime, of lover time gone by,
Throng my memory so tenderly, and sigh. My
Sensory memories of summer and past romantic times come back to me vividly, making me reminisce and sigh heavily.
Sweet Indian maiden, one day I'll hold you,
In my arms fold you, Cherokee.
My dear Indian woman, I long for the day I'll hold you and embrace you tightly in my arms.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Ray Noble
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bills48321
This track should have been included on the disc that NASA sent into space years ago to showcase human achievements to other civilizations.
Greg McNair
Absolutely!
Piotr Barcz
I agree fully, this is some of the best classic jazz I've heard!
João Pedro Ferrari
@Danilo Agostinho kkk
João Pedro Ferrari
@Electro-Cute because it’s beautiful
Kameron Tyler
Absolutely
Michael Herrera
Still the best phrasing to ever improvise. So melodic and intelligent.
chazinko
Bud Powell's Verve recording is right up there too. Always the dark horse but his best is as good as Bird and Dizzie.
Peter Donovan
@Alexander Lahti-Thiam Yep should’ve clarified! Early Stitt sounds to me just like Parker.
Baguette Depain
@Peter Donovan Not the same instrument but respectable opinion.