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.
I’m In The Mood For Love
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Simply because you're near me.
Funny, but when you're near me
I'm in the mood for love.
Heaven is in your eyes
Bright as the stars we're under
Oh! Is it any wonder
Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade?
We've put our hearts together
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
If there's a cloud above
If it should rain we'll let it
But for tonight, forget it!
I'm in the mood for love
The song “I’m in the Mood for Love” is a classic love song that was composed by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields in 1935. It has been covered by over hundreds of recording artists, and it is a timeless song that is particularly associated with the jazz great, Charlie Parker. The lyrics of this song express the singer's romantic feelings towards a person who is near to them, and how this person's presence evokes in them an intense desire for love.
The first few lines of the song capture the singer's intense feeling of attraction and desire for love. The lyrics suggest that the singer's proximity to the object of their affection has a significant impact on their emotional state. When the person is nearby, the singer cannot help but feel romantic and in the mood for love. The next few lines of the song refer to the person's eyes, which are said to be heavenly, and the stars in the sky, implying a sense of wonder and beauty. This metaphor evokes a sense of transcendence, which not only adds depth to the lyrics but also reflects the singer's intense emotional state.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the mood for love
I am feeling an intense desire for romantic love.
Simply because you're near me.
My love for you has the power to influence my emotions even when we are in close proximity.
Funny, but when you're near me
It is ironic how your presence alone can make me feel sentimental about love.
I'm in the mood for love.
Once again, I am feeling an intense desire for romantic love because of your presence.
Heaven is in your eyes
Your eyes are so captivating that they remind me of the divine.
Bright as the stars we're under
Your eyes are as luminous as the stars we can see in the sky.
Oh! Is it any wonder
It is unsurprising that I am feeling romantic when I am inspired by the beauty of your eyes.
I'm in the mood for love?
Yet again, I am feeling an intense desire for romantic love.
Why stop to think of whether
There is no reason to pause and doubt our love.
This little dream might fade?
Why worry if this love we have is only temporary?
We've put our hearts together
We have opened ourselves to the vulnerability of love by being in a relationship.
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
Now that we have given ourselves to love, I am no longer afraid of what the future might bring.
If there's a cloud above
Even if there is something weighing on our minds, such as problems or disagreements, we can look past them.
If it should rain we'll let it
Even if things aren't perfect, we won't let our differences get in the way of our love.
But for tonight, forget it!
For tonight, we will be present in the moment and enjoy our love together.
I'm in the mood for love
One last time, I am feeling an intense desire for romantic love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy Mchugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juanthorpez
Masterpiece
@jubilose7367
One of the best ever
@forgetmenot987654321
Cudeńko...Takie poranki to ja uwielbiam 😊☕
@masternate42
0:45
@shendshillova6872
Thanks, I used your comment to transcribe that part
@ohmorieiichi7470
もう、最高。
まさに、神。
唯一、無二。
秋葉原の大森栄一より
Eiichi Ohmori
from Akihabara Tokyo Japan
@hq_19
2:07
@olebirgerpedersen
When Parker played with strings his sound was at its best.
@xxczerxx
I wonder was he using a particular setup or was it simply his playing altered in a different setting? He sounds SO different elsewhere.
@hq_19
1:21