Saxophone player Charlie “Bird
” Parker looms over jazz larger than any other musician, except for perhaps Louis Armstrong. Parker's compelling, distinctive tone—his searing, “hot
” sound—his bristling sense of rhythm and his sophisticated harmonic sense are still considered the standard for jazz improvisers today.
Born on , Parker was raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and left school at 15 to become a professional musician. After observing jazz innovators Lester Young and Count BasieBasie...