Biography

Charlie Parker, also known as Bird or Yardbird, was born in Kansas City in 1920. A member of many swing era big bands, most notably Jay McShann, Parker would eventually go on to create and master the style known as Bebop. He was known for his dynamic approach to improvising. He was able to change styles on a dime, in one song searing and blazing fast, and then soulful, soft, and sweet in the next song. Over the course of Charlie Parker’s nearly 15 year career, he would associate with other heavy hitters of the jazz world at the time including but not limited to, Charles Mingus, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie,  and Thelonious Monk.