How Did Charlie Parker Influence Jazz

Charlie Parker Jr. better known as the Bird was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He is accredited for being an influential part in the development of bebop. This style of jazz had a much faster tempo, specialized technique, and advancement in the harmony that is used. His playing style made way for faster chords, variants to altered chords, and substitution that are made to it. Although he had a difficult upbringing and maybe obstacles were placed in front of him, he still succeeded and became a great jazz musician. From an early age, Parker was interested in the saxophone; he joined his schools band in order to play the instrument. He used an instrument he rented from school because he didn’t have the funds to buy his own. He had …show more content…
The excessive amount of practicing led to his mastering of improvisation playing. He also began to develop ideas that led to the creation of the new style jazz, bebop. He had many influences in his jazz many including bands led by Count Basie and Benny Moten. He played all over Kansas City, his birthplace, with different local bands. There he picked up Buster Smith’s transitions in double and triple time, which helped shape Parkers style. In 1939, Parker moved to New York City leaving what was comfortable in Kansas City to risk it all in the Big Apple. He worked several jobs in order to stay afloat including a chicken shack where Art Tatum performed. While there he played with McShann’s band until he left in 1942 to play with Earl Hines band. This move led to future recording with fellow band mate Dizzy Gillespie as a duo. The night Parker “created” bebop, he stumbled upon it when he realized that the 12 semitones of the chromatic scale can lead to any key, which broke some of the limitations simple jazz had. Many of the older already established jazz musicians were against the new way of the younger artists, but other like Tatum and Hawkins joined in and had recording sessions with some of the up and coming