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March 15, 2006
A cat who could make a horn wail
It's hard to watch someone squander obvious talent. Maybe it's a "way" with words, or a flair with pen-and-ink, or genius with animals. Whatever it is, you really hate to see that ability wasted by drugs, alcohol, sloth - or all of the above. According to author Brian Priestley, nearly everyone who knew jazz great Charlie Parker recognized his incredible talent with a horn. In the new book "Chasin' the Bird: The Life and Legacy of Charlie Parker," Priestly says that they, too, were dismayed at promise wasted. Charlie Parker's early history is mostly that of conjecture, which is common with many African American musicians of his generation. He was born in 1920 in Kansas City and raised in a more rural part of town. During the Depression, Charlie's mother took a second job and scraped up enough money to buy a house in the city. Left on his own for much of the time, and with a $45 second-hand sax, Charlie began to skip school to hang out at clubs. Although he was just 14 years old, he pretended to be 18 and sneaked into nightclubs to play gigs. Along with the musical training he received, Parker also received a lesson in alcohol, marijuana and later, heroin. Priestley says that Parker was introduced to booze and pills as early as 1932, and he might have discovered heroin at age 15. Information is second-hand, of course, but it is known that Charlie Parker battled addictions for much of his life. He was in and out of hospitals and treatment programs. He hocked his own instruments, as well as borrowed ones. He was fired from bands and gigs nearly as quickly as he signed on. At least once, he almost killed himself when he blacked out in bed with a lit cigarette. Overdoses were all too common. Finally, beaten and tired, Charlie Parker wished for pneumonia to end his life. On March 12, 1955, he got that wish. But oh, that genius! Musicians who heard Parker play were awed by his talent. Many times, he had to be restrained from lengthy solos; so strong was his desire to play. No doubt about it - Charlie Parker was a cat who could make a horn wail. "Chasin' the Bird" is a jazz fanatic's delight and shouldn't be missed if you dig that jive. Author Brian Priestley is a jazz critic and author of several books on jazz artists. Here, he includes details, names, and one of the most comprehensive Charlie Parker discographies you'll ever find. Those same details make this book a don't-read if you're only a casual listener of jazz. In addition to names and gigs, Priestly examines Parker's abilities in a chapter that deeply discusses the man's music in terms that musicians will understand. If you don't jam, though, you won't "get it." Jazz aficionados will want to chase down a copy of "Chasin' the Bird." For the non-musician or non-jazz-fan, however, reading this book will be wasting your time. Schlichenmeyer reviews books for the Pahrump Valley Times from her home in Wisconsin. |
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