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10 Latin Jazz Perspectives on Charlie Parker

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Bebop produced many strong personalities, but one artistic innovator remains the iconic symbol of the bebop era, saxophonist Charlie Parker. His fearless improvisational style blended blues notes, chord alterations, and awe-inspiring dexterity; he shocked the world and laid the foundation for the modern jazz language. Record producers captured Parkers constant ingenuity several times, creating a volume of recordings that read like a bebop textbook. His passion for music can only be matched by his tragic story of addiction and loss, which all too often overshadows his musical significance. His smiling face remains an unforgettable image and his name is forever linked to the style. Ask 10 people to name a jazz artist, and youre likely to hear Parkers name several times.

Latin Jazz emerged in the United States during the heat of the bebop period. It was a natural transition - musicians were putting energy into creating a complex harmonic foundation, but the rhythmic content remained rather plain. Afro-Cuban rhythms added the perfect twist to the bebop language, providing an unstoppable combination. A number of musicians recognized the significance of the connection between bebop and Latin rhythms, exploring the integration of the two styles. Even as Latin Jazz has evolved in different directions over the years, the marriage between Latin rhythms and bebop harmony has remained a strongly entrenched piece of the tradition.

A number of Latin Jazz artists have chosen to visit bebop, and Parkers repertoire stands as a mandatory stop on the trip. The harmonic complexity of the pieces presents a significant challenge to the improviser; these are not 3 chord songs, the harmony shifts constantly. Most artists will follow Parkers lead on these tunes and play them at top speeds, once again complicating matters. The purely aesthetic decisions that accompany historically important pieces like these are vast - should improvisers reflect Parkers influence or display their own voice? There is a list of complex choices that accompany Parkers work; covering Parker in a Latin Jazz voice tests an artists merit. Ive chosen ten outstanding examples of Latin Jazz artists performing Parkers work; check them out - the symbiotic nature of bebop and Latin Jazz shines through this work strongly.

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