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Bird Lives!: The High Life & Hard Times of Charlie (Yardbird) Parker
"The best biography of any jazz musician that we have. Bird Lives! will stand for a long time as a major source of information and illumination not only of the great musician with whom it deals but of the entire jazz life in this society."--Ralph Gleason
"Inspired by great affection and dedication, Bird Lives! provides a vivid and accurate picture not only of the saxophonist-composer as artist and human being but of his zeitgeist and the musical/social setting that produced him. Parker was an immensely complex personality; saint and satyr, loving father and footloose vagabond, with a limitless appetite for sex, music, food, pills, heroin, liquor, life. A man of vast influence, the most admired and imitated creator of the mid-1940s bop revolution, he was forced to work in dives, reduced to bumming dollars when he should have been respected as a reigning virtuoso. . . . A sensitive, penetrating portrait."--Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times
"One of the very few jazz books that deserve to be called literature . . . perhaps the finest writing on jazz to be found anywhere. . . . Those aware of Parker's genius cannot do without this book."--Grover Sales, Saturday Review
"Inspired by great affection and dedication, Bird Lives! provides a vivid and accurate picture not only of the saxophonist-composer as artist and human being but of his zeitgeist and the musical/social setting that produced him. Parker was an immensely complex personality; saint and satyr, loving father and footloose vagabond, with a limitless appetite for sex, music, food, pills, heroin, liquor, life. A man of vast influence, the most admired and imitated creator of the mid-1940s bop revolution, he was forced to work in dives, reduced to bumming dollars when he should have been respected as a reigning virtuoso. . . . A sensitive, penetrating portrait."--Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times
"One of the very few jazz books that deserve to be called literature . . . perhaps the finest writing on jazz to be found anywhere. . . . Those aware of Parker's genius cannot do without this book."--Grover Sales, Saturday Review
432 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 9, 2008
this book tore me apart. whether youre a charlie parker fanatic or not (tho it helps as its about charlie parker) ross russels 79 biography gives us access to the man with a hole in his soul. bird lived and played hard into his early death, his music took off from where armstrong left off, and all those that came after were merely replicating his apocalyptic blues. its a stunning insight into pre and post ww2 america, into the music industry, and into the core of an artist who blew too deep. charlie bird was never truly compensated, respected or worshipped for his revolutionary recordings, his heroin addiction, unreliability and psycho sexual behaviours preventing him from the nice cars and adornments dizzy and miles accepted, but everyone knows he was the one. like dylan thomas he was so ahead of his time it took us a while after his death to catch up and see. if you love jazz, art or you are an artist yourself then find time for this one. then listen to parkers mood. bebop!
November 15, 2020
you know, for all the annoying old school ways of framing black masculinity in terms of how critics and jazz historians kinda want to turn jazz into a competitive sporting event, and how gender is also framed by a lot of these writers (in old ways that are rubbed in your face sometimes and under the surface in general), this is a great biography of charlie parker. i mean, whether or not i believe every word, it delivers on tracing the man's life from start to finish. the recording and performing work seems particularly well documented, and you come away with a bigger picture of bird; that there were so many aspects of his behavior and his thinking - on many a subject actually, and on race in particular - which is a subject that jazz writings tend to avoid.
it is both heartbreaking and infuriating that charles parker had to grow up and go about thriving on a riff in the america that still embraced jim crow in many areas, including his hometown of kansas city. fortunately the city government sanctioned corruption in kansas city in the 1930's of bird's youth made it possible for the clubs to thrive. this activity employed a lot of musicians (and dancers comedians, and all manner of entertainer) - there were countless bands to be heard every night, all through the night and into the next day.
ok, not here to recount the book - but yeah, notwithstanding the occasional nagging complaint with the social parlance of the day from a book published in 1973 (on issues of gender and race), i'm thankful for all the info i picked up here on one of the best musical minds of the 20th century - a man with more demons than dante, and a horn to exorcise them. he also pushed a lot of love into the world through that alto; the revolutionary cry of freedom that rings in bird's music influenced and inspired so many (myself included) and continues to marvel us today via his recordings (i got way into the complete savoy and dial records while i was reading this, which was like an additional timeline from 1944 -1948).
it is both heartbreaking and infuriating that charles parker had to grow up and go about thriving on a riff in the america that still embraced jim crow in many areas, including his hometown of kansas city. fortunately the city government sanctioned corruption in kansas city in the 1930's of bird's youth made it possible for the clubs to thrive. this activity employed a lot of musicians (and dancers comedians, and all manner of entertainer) - there were countless bands to be heard every night, all through the night and into the next day.
ok, not here to recount the book - but yeah, notwithstanding the occasional nagging complaint with the social parlance of the day from a book published in 1973 (on issues of gender and race), i'm thankful for all the info i picked up here on one of the best musical minds of the 20th century - a man with more demons than dante, and a horn to exorcise them. he also pushed a lot of love into the world through that alto; the revolutionary cry of freedom that rings in bird's music influenced and inspired so many (myself included) and continues to marvel us today via his recordings (i got way into the complete savoy and dial records while i was reading this, which was like an additional timeline from 1944 -1948).
February 15, 2016
Another book from the laundry room shelf, I should have read this a long time ago. I claim to love jazz, but I don't play, and I'm no student of it. I was always very fuzzy on Charlie Parker. His blazing fast style can be jarring to the ears, and I have to admit, I never got it. I usually prefer deep textures, a big sound, and long slow tunes I can follow, remember, and hum in the elevator. Bird is relentless, frenetic, (and sometimes a bit wheezy). The whole period of his music, the 40’s and early 50’s, has always been an undifferentiated blur to me.
Written in 1973 by a white producer who was one of the first to record Bird as a leader, back in 1946, this book has something of a bad reputation. The author himself makes a case for the raised eyebrow. Is it really appropriate for yet another white bystander to write a bio of a black jazz hero? There is some pretty good research here, based on a lot of interviews with musicians who worked with Bird. A lot of the story is fictionalized, with snatches of dialogue and descriptions of scenes for which there were no cameras. That gives a realistic documentary feel, but suddenly you turn the page on the chapter where Russell talks about his own involvement with Parker, signing back of the napkin contracts, lending him money, getting him out of rehab, getting crossed as Bird breached exclusive agreements, and you realize there can be no objectivity here. The language suddenly changes to the first person, and oscillates between being honest and defensive. There are people who thought Ross Russell was one of the many people in the music industry who didn’t do right by him, and Bird was one of them. The last time they met, Charlie Parker threatened to shoot him.
While it may not be the definitive biography, I still think it’s a great book. The language is evocative, and at times has a dark, beat edge to it. It makes a convincing case that Charlie Parker was a true cultural hero, and deserves to be a legend. He was a unique and powerful creative force in transforming jazz from swing, which was for dancing and entertainment, to bebop, where in the space of a few years, jazz became a form of personal expression, an Art. Parker was no civil rights activist, but he stood his own terms, and set an example for doing so. Like too many legends, he also set a standard for tragic self-destruction. When he died, his health destroyed by years of heroin and alcohol, the coroner estimated his age at 53. He was 34.
Well, then, on a lighter note, what also made the book valuable for me is that it also served as a listening guide. Thanks to the den of copyright thieves that is YouTube, every cut mentioned is available for instant listening with a few keystrokes. That includes some bootleg recordings that the author himself never heard, except by reputation. It sets the scene of individual recording sessions. It sketches out the dynamic among the players, legends in their own right, like Gillespie, Miles, and Monk. Sidemen and hangers-on whose names I’d only known from liner notes, became became fleshed out characters, with motives and styles of their own. With passionate commentary on choruses and solos, the book helped me dig (should I put quotes around that?) Charlie Parker, and bebop, in a way that escaped me before. I’ll never be able to whistle Charlie Parker solos, but in the past couple of weeks, I’ve been hearing them in my dreams, sharp and clear, utterly inventive, and blazingly fast.
Written in 1973 by a white producer who was one of the first to record Bird as a leader, back in 1946, this book has something of a bad reputation. The author himself makes a case for the raised eyebrow. Is it really appropriate for yet another white bystander to write a bio of a black jazz hero? There is some pretty good research here, based on a lot of interviews with musicians who worked with Bird. A lot of the story is fictionalized, with snatches of dialogue and descriptions of scenes for which there were no cameras. That gives a realistic documentary feel, but suddenly you turn the page on the chapter where Russell talks about his own involvement with Parker, signing back of the napkin contracts, lending him money, getting him out of rehab, getting crossed as Bird breached exclusive agreements, and you realize there can be no objectivity here. The language suddenly changes to the first person, and oscillates between being honest and defensive. There are people who thought Ross Russell was one of the many people in the music industry who didn’t do right by him, and Bird was one of them. The last time they met, Charlie Parker threatened to shoot him.
While it may not be the definitive biography, I still think it’s a great book. The language is evocative, and at times has a dark, beat edge to it. It makes a convincing case that Charlie Parker was a true cultural hero, and deserves to be a legend. He was a unique and powerful creative force in transforming jazz from swing, which was for dancing and entertainment, to bebop, where in the space of a few years, jazz became a form of personal expression, an Art. Parker was no civil rights activist, but he stood his own terms, and set an example for doing so. Like too many legends, he also set a standard for tragic self-destruction. When he died, his health destroyed by years of heroin and alcohol, the coroner estimated his age at 53. He was 34.
Well, then, on a lighter note, what also made the book valuable for me is that it also served as a listening guide. Thanks to the den of copyright thieves that is YouTube, every cut mentioned is available for instant listening with a few keystrokes. That includes some bootleg recordings that the author himself never heard, except by reputation. It sets the scene of individual recording sessions. It sketches out the dynamic among the players, legends in their own right, like Gillespie, Miles, and Monk. Sidemen and hangers-on whose names I’d only known from liner notes, became became fleshed out characters, with motives and styles of their own. With passionate commentary on choruses and solos, the book helped me dig (should I put quotes around that?) Charlie Parker, and bebop, in a way that escaped me before. I’ll never be able to whistle Charlie Parker solos, but in the past couple of weeks, I’ve been hearing them in my dreams, sharp and clear, utterly inventive, and blazingly fast.
May 8, 2013
Fun, informative and accessible to the non musician; Although it helps to know a little about the scene once the author starts naming others in the business. A great overview of one of the great talents in jazz. A good look into a man who's views and music were years ahead of his contemporaries.
December 16, 2014
Is it a biography or a biographical novel? Call it 'the story of Charlie Parker's life', in which the author brings together the people in that life like characters in a novel, inventing dialogue, inner thoughts and outward motivations that he couldn't possibly have been privy to. The author knew Parker personally, and interviewed numerous others who had been close to him. Since another book had already quoted extensively from those sources, it seems that this author chose the 'creative non-fiction' route, producing a warm yet critical look at this great musician's messed-up life. Though sympathetic, the author neither whitewashes nor condemns Parker's professional struggles or his addictions.
My only criticism is that I'd have liked more analysis of the music itself and the nuances of his musical development. Nevertheless, if you're interested in the life and career of one of the great musical groundbreakers of the 20th Century, you'll enjoy this engaging page-turner of a book.
My only criticism is that I'd have liked more analysis of the music itself and the nuances of his musical development. Nevertheless, if you're interested in the life and career of one of the great musical groundbreakers of the 20th Century, you'll enjoy this engaging page-turner of a book.
August 12, 2008
Bird Lives, what can you say? The biography of Charlie Parker. One of the most influencial black musicians of the 30's and one of the creators of bebop & improv jazz. His influence on jazz music is incalculable. If he was alive today he would have the American Lifetime Achievement award like Heston,Dylan, and other great contributers to American art. This is not a book just for musicians. Charlie Parker led an interesting life full of difficulties. Heroin addiction, racial oppression, and skepticism for his music. But he overcame all these obstacles to become a true American cultural hero. An incredible book that takes you from the back room world of Kansas City jazz to the clubs of Harlem in New York. Where he met other pioneers like Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and John Coltraine. WORD! Cary
December 13, 2011
Troubling, very troubling, engaging, painful, great on the music. The author has a knowledge of culture and the history of ideas which helps a lot when placing the whole story into a wider context.
Part biography, part cultural history, and part novel - it is, for all its faults, an enormously important book.
Part biography, part cultural history, and part novel - it is, for all its faults, an enormously important book.
June 14, 2009
Although reprinted since, I first read an out-of-print copy found in a college library. Still the definitive bio of tormented genius Charlie Parker, it attempts to delineate and map the shifting, wavering boundaries between torment and genius.
February 27, 2011
Hard to say what to make of Ross Russell -- he a was a label owner as well as Parker's biographer; employer and eulogist. It's hard to believe he'd be impartial when it came to Bird. But keeping that in mind, it's another valuable look into the life of the bebop pioneer.
September 14, 2012
The definitive biography on Charlie Parker. Covers a lot of ground, including his famous appetites for music, women, food and drugs. Musicians and non-musicians will come away with something by reading this book.
February 9, 2018
I really liked this book. The story of Parker's even if it was sad at times was a great read. As with so many artists I often wonder what they would think of today's music. Also, I wonder where they would be now.
July 12, 2008
quite technical for the non-musician,but still very good
January 26, 2016
All the bios of Parker are worth reading. Giddens wrote the best one. This one has plenty of information. It's a bit of a potboiler sometimes, and it didn't need to be.
Want to read
October 21, 2009I just ordered this book at the suggestion of a friend who knows music all too well. It's in his blood! I'm excited to read this book. I ordered so both my husband and I can read it.
Read
February 21, 2010Bird Lives!: The High Life and Hard Times of Charlie (Yardbird) Parker by Ross Russell (1996)
September 4, 2010
best beginning to a biography i have ever read, and almost everything you would want to know about Charlie Parker's life. Awesome read.
December 31, 2010
The definitive book on jazz legend Charlie Parker.
June 24, 2011
i heard this was not the most accurate book but it's good
August 21, 2012
A riveting biography of Charlie Parker by his recording company man Ross Russell
September 5, 2013
badly edited but some good information on the life of parker. Definetly recommend to any hard core jazz fans and musicians
September 21, 2014
Brings Bird "Soaring" To Life!
January 4, 2020
Brilliantly evocative of a unique (and as such, unrepeatable) moment in history. For jazz fans but also social historians and all musicians. Compelling as any fiction.
September 20, 2024
5 stelle non per il libro in sé (anche se è una biografia interessante non brilla per originalità o per una prosa degna di nota) ma per quella figura mitologica che era quel tossicomane, pazzo, alcolista, leggendario, genio, fottuto artista di Charlie Parker, il Mozart del XX secolo.
Read
January 21, 2025Exceptional jazz biography, that portrays an outstanding musician. Follow along as Parker opens up his saxophone case and sets up his bebop lab. Get the authentic feeling of the jazz scenes of the 1930s 40s and 50s in Kansas City, New York and the West Coast .
September 16, 2022
La biografía más conocida sobre el mítico saxofonista Charlie Parker. Escrita por uno d los pocos que pudo conocerla de cerca. Llevada al cine por Clint Eastwood en 1988. No es periodista ni escritor, pero es un documento importante. Es de los años setenta. Seguramente habrá mejores biografías publicadas.
October 16, 2022
I had wanted to read this book since childhood, but never managed to get hold of a copy until the Chandler Park branch of the Detroit Public Library, which had been closed for several years, was re-opened several months ago.
One sunny Sunday afternoon many years ago, around 1983 or '84, I was riding in the car with my mother when she decided to stop at a yard sale out in the country, north of Ann Arbor, Michigan. As I was looking through a large box of records, the lady whose yard sale it was explained to my mother that the records had belonged to her son. I ended up buying a Charlie Parker LP titled 'The Happy Bird', recorded live in Boston with two different bands. The first band featured Wardell Gray (ts), Benny Harris (tpt), Walter Bishop Jr. (p), Teddy Kotick (b) and Roy Haynes (d); the second Joe Gordon (tpt), Bill Wellington (ts), Dick Twardzik (p), Charles Mingus (b) and again Roy Haynes (d). At that point, I noticed a guitar case under the table on which the records were sitting, and asked if I could open it. The lady said yes, and while I did so, told my mother that the guitar inside had also been her son's; apparently he had been an aspiring musician as a teenager, but had been killed in Viet Nam during the war. The case still had the original "hang-tag" attached to the handle, and when I opened it I saw that it held an absolutely pristine, perfectly spotless red Fender Jazzmaster. I asked the lady how much she wanted for it, and she told me $40.00; I asked my mother whether she would front me the money, and she said yes, but she would have to go get it (I had $20 at home, so really she would just be fronting me half). The lady said she knew her son would want me to have his guitar, promised to save the guitar until we got back, and we went to get the money. When we got back about twenty minutes later, a middle-aged man had the guitar case in his hand and was giving her five twenties. "Too bad, kid" he sneered as he walked away. The old bitch didn't even have the decency to apologise...
This book was better than I expected, and besides, I've always liked the original dust-jacket design, even though it is now quite dated...
If you happen to come across a copy of that record, you should get it- it has an absolutely smoking version of 'Scrapple From The Apple'. Bird & Wardell Gray played their asses off, and I believe this is the only recording of them playing together...
One sunny Sunday afternoon many years ago, around 1983 or '84, I was riding in the car with my mother when she decided to stop at a yard sale out in the country, north of Ann Arbor, Michigan. As I was looking through a large box of records, the lady whose yard sale it was explained to my mother that the records had belonged to her son. I ended up buying a Charlie Parker LP titled 'The Happy Bird', recorded live in Boston with two different bands. The first band featured Wardell Gray (ts), Benny Harris (tpt), Walter Bishop Jr. (p), Teddy Kotick (b) and Roy Haynes (d); the second Joe Gordon (tpt), Bill Wellington (ts), Dick Twardzik (p), Charles Mingus (b) and again Roy Haynes (d). At that point, I noticed a guitar case under the table on which the records were sitting, and asked if I could open it. The lady said yes, and while I did so, told my mother that the guitar inside had also been her son's; apparently he had been an aspiring musician as a teenager, but had been killed in Viet Nam during the war. The case still had the original "hang-tag" attached to the handle, and when I opened it I saw that it held an absolutely pristine, perfectly spotless red Fender Jazzmaster. I asked the lady how much she wanted for it, and she told me $40.00; I asked my mother whether she would front me the money, and she said yes, but she would have to go get it (I had $20 at home, so really she would just be fronting me half). The lady said she knew her son would want me to have his guitar, promised to save the guitar until we got back, and we went to get the money. When we got back about twenty minutes later, a middle-aged man had the guitar case in his hand and was giving her five twenties. "Too bad, kid" he sneered as he walked away. The old bitch didn't even have the decency to apologise...
This book was better than I expected, and besides, I've always liked the original dust-jacket design, even though it is now quite dated...
If you happen to come across a copy of that record, you should get it- it has an absolutely smoking version of 'Scrapple From The Apple'. Bird & Wardell Gray played their asses off, and I believe this is the only recording of them playing together...
December 10, 2020
Readers who don't love jazz need not bother with this. But for the fans, this is eye-opening and enjoyable to read. Excellent background on the Kansas City club scene that gave birth to Parker and many other innovators. I gather it all came to an end when the corrupt mayor who let the jazz clubs thrive got thrown out. Once Bird's career gets underway the stories about missed gigs, blown contracts, begging for money, pawning his saxophone and pawning borrowed saxophones do become repetitious. But the notes about brilliant club or recording sessions while all this craziness was happening put it in perspective. I'm not likely to forget Bird's arrest and jail beatings for a curfew violation (having a lightbulb on at midnight under a sheet on the front porch of a house) in Jackson, Mississippi. The first scene in the book with Bird consuming two entire Mexican dinners while missing the first two sets, opening night at Billy Berg's in Hollywood, sending Dean Benedetti to get the band to play Cherokee for his intro was brilliant. Russell helps us understand the complex legacy of one of the greatest musicians in human history and in my case to hear his music again as if for the first time..
December 16, 2019
The author tells the story as if he was with Parker all the time. Because of this the 300+ pages are finished before you know it. There's a change in mood when Ross finally meets Parker and works with him. What I like is there's info about Parker (no judgement, no romanticism, Ross tries to tell without imposing an opinion), but a lot af background so you can place events in the time period it happened.
Very different book compared to Art Pepper bio, which I find more brutal. Complete list in the back of everyone who helped with the book / stories. I will read "to bop or not to bop" to compare events.
What a life! Luckily what remains in the end is the music of Bird a genius.
Very different book compared to Art Pepper bio, which I find more brutal. Complete list in the back of everyone who helped with the book / stories. I will read "to bop or not to bop" to compare events.
What a life! Luckily what remains in the end is the music of Bird a genius.
April 16, 2024
ird Lives!: The High Life and Hard Times of Charlie (Yardbird) Parker" by Ross Russell stands as a monumental testament to the life and legacy of one of jazz's most enigmatic figures, saxophonist Charlie Parker. Russell's biography delves deep into the complex persona of Parker, unraveling the layers of genius and turmoil that defined his existence.
With meticulous research and a keen eye for detail, Russell paints a vivid portrait of Parker's meteoric rise to fame and his subsequent struggles with addiction and personal demons. From the smoky clubs of Kansas City to the hallowed stages of New York City's jazz scene, Russell chronicles Parker's journey with an unwavering commitment to honesty and authenticity.
What sets "Bird Lives!" apart is its ability to capture the essence of Parker's music and its profound impact on the evolution of jazz. Through Russell's insightful analysis and evocative prose, readers are transported to the heart of bebop revolution, where Parker's revolutionary improvisations reshaped the landscape of modern music.
However, Russell does not shy away from exploring the darker aspects of Parker's life, including his battles with heroin addiction and the personal demons that ultimately led to his tragic demise. Yet, even amidst the darkness, Russell finds moments of redemption and resilience, highlighting Parker's unwavering dedication to his craft and his relentless pursuit of artistic excellence.
The strength of "Bird Lives!" lies not only in its meticulous research and engaging narrative but also in its ability to humanize Parker, presenting him as a flawed yet infinitely compelling figure. Russell's biography is a poignant reminder of the complexities of genius and the enduring power of music to transcend the limitations of the human condition.
In conclusion, "Bird Lives!" is a gripping and insightful biography that offers a compelling portrait of one of jazz's most iconic figures. Russell's masterful storytelling and deep understanding of Parker's music make this book a must-read for anyone interested in the life and legacy of Charlie Parker.
L.A.Review
With meticulous research and a keen eye for detail, Russell paints a vivid portrait of Parker's meteoric rise to fame and his subsequent struggles with addiction and personal demons. From the smoky clubs of Kansas City to the hallowed stages of New York City's jazz scene, Russell chronicles Parker's journey with an unwavering commitment to honesty and authenticity.
What sets "Bird Lives!" apart is its ability to capture the essence of Parker's music and its profound impact on the evolution of jazz. Through Russell's insightful analysis and evocative prose, readers are transported to the heart of bebop revolution, where Parker's revolutionary improvisations reshaped the landscape of modern music.
However, Russell does not shy away from exploring the darker aspects of Parker's life, including his battles with heroin addiction and the personal demons that ultimately led to his tragic demise. Yet, even amidst the darkness, Russell finds moments of redemption and resilience, highlighting Parker's unwavering dedication to his craft and his relentless pursuit of artistic excellence.
The strength of "Bird Lives!" lies not only in its meticulous research and engaging narrative but also in its ability to humanize Parker, presenting him as a flawed yet infinitely compelling figure. Russell's biography is a poignant reminder of the complexities of genius and the enduring power of music to transcend the limitations of the human condition.
In conclusion, "Bird Lives!" is a gripping and insightful biography that offers a compelling portrait of one of jazz's most iconic figures. Russell's masterful storytelling and deep understanding of Parker's music make this book a must-read for anyone interested in the life and legacy of Charlie Parker.
L.A.Review
January 6, 2025
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0QF...
Musical summary / reading playlist
This book was lent to me by my guitar teacher John Bush and it was a pleasant surprise. Having not known much about Charlie Parker or the jazz world pre Kind of Blue (1959) this was a very nice glimpse into that era.
Though I acknowledge some of the potential exaggerations about certain elements, Ross Russel’s intentions here are not to write a perfect history, but to preserve legacy and the legend that is Charlie ‘Yardbird’ Parker. And despite this he still manages to keep things down to earth and historical while also making particular sections action pact and extraordinary.
From right off the bat, the Obligato launches us into the setting, and depicting its characters beyond lifelike, Bird almost appearing ogreish in his prose, and setting down the foundation of what the rest of the book will be like. While some parts are slower than others, for most of it I was enthralled, notably towards the end where all the drama and tension starts to close. Many of these key action pact moments almost becoming cinematic, in my mind being able to visualise each point scene to scene.
Given that this was the first written history of one of the most prolific African American culture hero’s, and undoubtedly one of the most important, unknown, figures in modern culture, I believe that every inch of this book was worth the read.
Musical summary / reading playlist
This book was lent to me by my guitar teacher John Bush and it was a pleasant surprise. Having not known much about Charlie Parker or the jazz world pre Kind of Blue (1959) this was a very nice glimpse into that era.
Though I acknowledge some of the potential exaggerations about certain elements, Ross Russel’s intentions here are not to write a perfect history, but to preserve legacy and the legend that is Charlie ‘Yardbird’ Parker. And despite this he still manages to keep things down to earth and historical while also making particular sections action pact and extraordinary.
From right off the bat, the Obligato launches us into the setting, and depicting its characters beyond lifelike, Bird almost appearing ogreish in his prose, and setting down the foundation of what the rest of the book will be like. While some parts are slower than others, for most of it I was enthralled, notably towards the end where all the drama and tension starts to close. Many of these key action pact moments almost becoming cinematic, in my mind being able to visualise each point scene to scene.
Given that this was the first written history of one of the most prolific African American culture hero’s, and undoubtedly one of the most important, unknown, figures in modern culture, I believe that every inch of this book was worth the read.
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