Chasin' the Bird

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Charlie Parker, a legendary figure in jazz, captivated musicians and fans alike with his extraordinary speed and improvisational brilliance. In this biography, Brian Priestley explores Parker's life from his Kansas City childhood to his final days in New York. The narrative begins with Parker's teenage obsession with mastering the saxophone, leading to his first trip to New York, where he worked as a dishwasher for $9.00 a week at Jimmy's Chicken Shack, a hotspot for jazz greats like Art Tatum, who influenced him significantly. Priestley delves into Parker's collaborations with other jazz legends and highlights iconic recordings such as "Salt Peanuts," "A Night in Tunisia," and "Yardbird Suite," which shaped the jazz landscape. The biography does not shy away from Parker's struggles, detailing his battles with drug addiction, alcoholism, and tumultuous relationships. It also recounts the heartbreaking loss of his daughter Pree at just two-and-a-half years old and the tragic circumstances surrounding Parker's own death at thirty-four, where he was found in such poor condition that his age was misreported as fifty-three. With a comprehensive discography listing every publicly available recording of Parker, this biography offers an essential look at the artistry of a true jazz giant, revealing the complexities behind his dazzling talent.