15 Quotes by Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker, also known as "Bird," was an influential American jazz saxophonist and composer who revolutionized the world of jazz music. Born in 1920, Parker was a key figure in the development of bebop, a complex and improvisational style of jazz that departed from the more traditional swing era. His virtuosic saxophone playing, innovative melodic lines, and harmonic ingenuity redefined the possibilities of jazz improvisation. Parker's rapid and intricate improvisations, coupled with his deep emotional expression, captivated audiences and fellow musicians alike. His collaborations with other jazz legends, such as Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk, further solidified his impact on the genre.
Despite his groundbreaking contributions, Parker's life was also marked by personal struggles, including drug addiction. Tragically, he passed away at a young age in 1955, but his legacy endures through his timeless recordings and enduring influence on generations of jazz musicians. Charlie Parker's profound impact on jazz and his contributions to the evolution of the genre make him a true legend in the history of music.
Charlie Parker Quotes
Don't play the saxophone. Let it play you.
Master your instrument. Master the music. And then forget all that bullshit and just play.
Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.
You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.
Don't be afraid, just play the music.
If you don't live it, it won't come out your horn.
Any musician who says he is playing better either on tea, the needle, or when he is juiced, is a plain, straight liar. When I get too much to drink, I can't even finger well, let alone play decent ideas. You can miss the most important years of your life, the years of possible creation.
Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom.
They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.
It's just music. It's trying to play clean and looking for the pretty notes. The beat in a bop band is with the music, against it, behind it. It pushes it. It helps it. Help is the big thing. It has no continuity of beat, no steady chug-chug. Jazz has, and that's why bop is more flexible.
Man, there's no boundary line to art!
It's just music. It's playing clean and looking for the pretty notes.
I'd been getting bored with the stereotyped changes (harmonies) that were being used all the time. I found that by using the higher intervals of a chord as a melody line and backing them with appropriately related changes I could play the thing I'd been hearing. I came alive.
Some guys said 'Here's bop!' Wham! They said, 'Here's something we can make money on!' Wham! 'Here's a comedian!' Wham! Here's a guy who talks funny talk!'
I'm very glad to have met you. I like your playing very much.
Bop is no love-child of jazz.
You've got to learn your instrument.
― Charlie Parker Quotes
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
