Charlie Parker: His Music and Life
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Book Overview
"Whatever background you bring to it, the book willl likely enrich your understanding of Parker's music. . . ." --Cadence
As one of the architects of modern jazz (often called "bebop"), Charlie Parker (1920-55) had a profound effect on American music that continues to this day.
This book opens with a chapter of biography and then progresses to four chapters focusing on Charlie Parker's music by tracing his artistic evolution and major achievements as a jazz improviser. Much like a guided tour through an artist's retrospective, the book introduces readers to a sampling of Charlie Parker's most illustrative works. The musical discussions and transcribed musical examples are keyed to compact disc timings for easy location--a feature unique to this book.
"The musical analysis is brilliant, particularly the pre-1945 fragments." --DownBeat
". . . debunks the stereotype that jazz musicians are unschooled and unsophisticated when it comes to music as art rather than entertainment. . . . An] insightful and informative addition to the literature of jazz." --Calvin Wilson, Kansas City Star
Carl Woideck is Instructor of Jazz History, University of Oregon.
As one of the architects of modern jazz (often called "bebop"), Charlie Parker (1920-55) had a profound effect on American music that continues to this day.
This book opens with a chapter of biography and then progresses to four chapters focusing on Charlie Parker's music by tracing his artistic evolution and major achievements as a jazz improviser. Much like a guided tour through an artist's retrospective, the book introduces readers to a sampling of Charlie Parker's most illustrative works. The musical discussions and transcribed musical examples are keyed to compact disc timings for easy location--a feature unique to this book.
"The musical analysis is brilliant, particularly the pre-1945 fragments." --DownBeat
". . . debunks the stereotype that jazz musicians are unschooled and unsophisticated when it comes to music as art rather than entertainment. . . . An] insightful and informative addition to the literature of jazz." --Calvin Wilson, Kansas City Star
Carl Woideck is Instructor of Jazz History, University of Oregon.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0472085557
ISBN13:9780472085552
Release Date:October 1998
Publisher:University of Michigan Press
Length:304 Pages
Weight:1.18 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 6.1" x 9.0"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
Best book on Bird
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
This is the most accurate and thorough book on Charlie Parker's music, and contains an excellent, concise account of his life. Unfortunately, my textbook supplier says it's out of print. Woideck's excellent _A Charlie Parker Companion_ is my other favorite book on the subject -- also out of print! I have wanted to use these two books in popular graduate seminars I teach on Parker's music, but haven't been able to obtain them.
Insightful and Powerful
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
I have the honor of being one of Carl Woideck students in his various jazz related classes at the University of Oregon and I can say without a doubt that this man knows his jazz. This book is an extension of who Charlie Parker was to his music and to the public -- filled with many personal insights about the man and his legend. This book is truly a must for any fan of Bird or popular music in general.
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