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.
Embraceable You
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you!
Just one look at you
My heart grew tipsy in me,
You and you alone
Bring out the gypsy in me!
Above all, I want my arms about you!
Don't be a naughty baby,
Come to papa, come to papa, do!
My sweet embraceable you!
The lyrics to Charlie Parker's song "Embraceable You" capture the essence of infatuation and love. The singer is expressing his desire for his sweetheart to embrace him, calling her "sweet embraceable you" and "irreplaceable you." He confesses that just a single glance from her is enough to make his heart skip a beat, and that being near her brings out his free-spirited, gypsy side. He loves everything about her, all of her charms, but most of all, he wants her in his arms.
The lyrics also contain a playful, flirtatious tone, with the singer teasingly referring to his lover as a "naughty baby" and urging her to come to him. Overall, the song is a heartfelt and romantic declaration of love, filled with desire and passion.
Line by Line Meaning
Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you!
Hold me closely, my dearest and most embracing person!
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you!
Envelop me in your arms, as no one else can replace you!
Just one look at you
Just seeing you once
My heart grew tipsy in me,
Caused my heart to skip a beat
You and you alone
Only you
Bring out the gypsy in me!
Inspire me to be adventurous and free-spirited like a gypsy!
I love all, the many charms about you!
I have admiration and affection for all of the wonderful qualities you possess!
Above all, I want my arms about you!
Most of all, I desire to surround you with my embrace!
Don't be a naughty baby,
Do not misbehave, my dear!
Come to papa, come to papa, do!
Come closer to me, come to me, please do!
My sweet embraceable you!
My beloved person whom I want to hold and cherish!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Unison Rights S.L., Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ruth Dixon
parker recomposes gershwin's tune completely, working from a limpid five-note phrase into a breathtaking solo.
Rubén Anta Glez
Charlie Parker y Miles Davis juntos tocando este tema de lo más cool, de la epoca del jazz autentico de los inicios
Giovanna Magliaretta
Esta grabación es un tesoro. Miles Davis tenía 20 años apenas y Parker unos 27. Que grandes fueron estos chicos...
Gino Curioso
Unos genios y una belleza de grabación, aunque la otra toma es más bella aun
Ricardo da Mata
Miles is just an overrated famous name.
chris dann
give us a clue as to why@Ricardo da Mata
Ricardo da Mata
@chris dann Listen to Fats Navarro and see the difference.
Nominal Egg
This is the solo that Supersax would go on to record in four-part harmony, accompanied by voices.
Geoff Bournes
When bird played this relaxed, it was truly beautiful and terrifying all at once.
Elis
Just gorgeous.