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'll Remember April
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
Alone where we have walked together
I'll remember April and be glad
I'll be content you loved me once in April
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
For flames live such a little while
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I'll remember April and smile
The song "I'll Remember April" by Charlie Parker is a classic jazz ballad that describes the bittersweet feelings of looking back on a past love affair. The first stanza, "This lovely day will lengthen into evening, We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had, Alone where we have walked together, I'll remember April and be glad," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer acknowledges that the relationship is over, but chooses to remember the happy times they shared together with fondness.
The second stanza, "I'll be content you loved me once in April, Your lips were warm and love and spring were new, I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow, For I'll remember April and you," speaks to the idea that even though the love affair has ended, the memories of the springtime love will stay with the singer forever. The singer is not afraid of the sorrow that autumn may bring because the memories of the love they shared in April will always bring them happiness.
Finally, the third stanza, "The fire wil dwindle into glowing ashes, For flames live such a little while, I won't forget but I won't be lonely, I'll remember April and smile," reminds the listener that love is fleeting and that the hot passion of a new love affair will fade into a comforting memory. Although the singer will never forget the love they shared, they won't be lonely because the memories of the past will always bring them happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
This lovely day will lengthen into evening
The day will turn into night.
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
We will say goodbye to everything that we had together.
Alone where we have walked together
I will be alone in the same places where we used to walk together.
I'll remember April and be glad
I will remember April and be happy.
I'll be content you loved me once in April
I will be satisfied that you loved me once in April.
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
I remember your warm lips, and the newness of our love and of spring.
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
I am not afraid of the sadness that comes with autumn.
For I'll remember April and you
Because I will remember April and you.
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
The passion will fade into a memory.
For flames live such a little while
Passion never lasts long.
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I won't forget you, but I won't be lonely either.
I'll remember April and smile
I will remember April and smile.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL, PATRICIA JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrReal112
Parker died in1955 yet 55 years later, his music still rocks. RIP Charlie
rayrayblues
@Cristian W. Fath Yes, among other things.
Cristian W. Fath
Only 35 years old!.. why?, to much drugs?
Eva Schoenfeld
and now it's another 10 years later and he still rocks
jay1beaux
Still an unmatched genius.
boomerang905
Oh my God, this will always be one of my favorites. From the Night and Day Album which is still in my family. There is no description for this except LOVE. No one could put anything across without love and passion for something or someone, even if that love is inspired by music or the music is inspired by love. I will chose the latter! Peace to you....: )
jus39
And to you too
Contato Música
Charlie Parker, um dos grandes ícones do Jazz... Bela música
Terry Corcoran
One of my favorite albums to listen to while driving around New York on a drizzly Fall day...
exjazzbass baz
this song is a wonderful combination of words and music.played by the the greatest.charlie and clifford and many more left us way too soon.still we have all these fantastic recordings to remind us of these musical giants.utube the best.