Charlie Parker

[jon]

If you ever have a chance to see the film footage of Charlie Parker sitting down with Coleman Hawkins.

Coleman is playing (tenor) with his usual beautiful sub tone lyricism when Charlie jumps in a little crudely, indeed the first note from Charlie sounds a little squawky.

Then hear the pure liquid that oozes out of Charlies alto and remember he was improvising. Must admit my eyes usually moisten up a bit when I hear this but I am too butch to cry (joke) 😉

Warning! Dont view if you are easily put off by greatness - at least one professional player was reported to have stopped playing after hearing Charlie play (famous throwing sax in river story) although I believe that he later started again.

Details of the film are at...

http://birdlives.co.uk/Film

I think you can actually view this online if you have broadband but please dont pipe it through PC speakers these guys deserve better than that!

http://birdlives.co.uk/multidisplay/Itemid

Pick the bottom one "Charlie and Hawk", Hawkins plays first and then Charlie takes over.

 

[rs2sensen]

great videos! I wish I had found those a couple months back when I was doing an Adolphe Sax documentary, I was having a hard time finding quality footage to fade in and out between.

 

[jon]

Hi rs2sensen

Most of these are available on DVD.

If you have any further interest let me know and I'll send you the details of the DVDs.

All the best
Jon

 

[AlbionLass]

Two words.....Buddy Rich.

Totally awesome.



Sax playing wasn't half bad either. 😉


Really inspirational yet soul destroying at the same time. 🙂

 

[jon]

Hi AlbionLass

Yup, I always think when I watch this that you can just see a little reaction in Coleman's expression when Charlie jumps in, perhaps a little impatiently.

Then after Charlie gets going I think Colemans face changes as if he is saying to himself that he doesnt mind being interupted if the interuption is going to sound this good.

Pure conjecture I know but thats the way I like to think of it.

All the best Jon

 

[arazi440]

🙂 The Charlie Parker sessions, with Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Buddy Rich etc were recorded in the studio prior to the film being shot, so there actually miming playing, its edited out but ive seen a clip where when Coleman Hawkins starts pretending to play, Parker is in hysterics and Coleman is trying to play trying desparately to keep a straight face, until the studio manger from behind the camera gives Parker a bollicking classic stuff 😛