This four-part exhibit, co-curated by the American Jazz Museum and Chuck Haddix of UMKC Libraries and the LaBudde Special Collections, provides an in-depth look at Parker's brilliance and charisma which features groundbreaking research, album covers, sheet music, and rare audio selections. Sponsored in part by Spotlight Charlie Parker and Bird 100 Charlie Parker.
Yardbird's First Flight
In 1933, Charlie enrolled in Lincoln High School, Kansas City’s only high school for African Americans. Charlie gravitated to Lincoln’s acclaimed music program. Charlie, having loaned his alto to a friend, picked up the baritone horn. Addie did not like the look of the baritone, so she bought him another alto saxophone. Charlie played in the band and orchestra. In the summer of 1935, Charlie joined the Twelve Chords of Rhythm, a young band led by Lawrence Keyes. The Chords played dances, social engagements and Sunday nights at Lincoln Hall, a popular dance hall located on the corner of 18th and Vine.
The Reno Club by LaBudde Special Collections, The University of Missouri-Kansas City |American Jazz Museum
After hours, Charlie continued his musical studies in the alleyways behind the nightclubs lining 12th Street. Addie worked nights and after she left for the evening, Charlie made his rounds of clubs with his friend Ernest Daniels. His favorite roost was the balcony above bandstand at the Reno Club where the Count Basie Band held court. Basie hosted a jam session that started Sunday night and continued all day Monday. Jam sessions in Kansas City became a rite of passage for young musicians.
In late spring of 1936, Charlie, over confident and eager to prove himself, sat in at the jam session at the Reno Club. When Charlie faltered while soloing on Honeysuckle Rose, drummer, Jo Jones showed his displeasure by throwing a cymbal at Charlie’s feet. Publicly humiliated, Charlie retreated to his home and diligently practiced his saxophone, vowing to return to the clubs on 12th Street and “show those cats.”
Yardbird in the Ozarks
A few month's after Charlie's humiliation at the jam session, he married his high school sweetheart Rebecca Ruffin, who was two year his senior. For the first time, Charlie felt like the man of the house. Eager to support Rebecca and help Addie financially, Charlie joined a union band that played in the Ozarks, a mountainous region 150 miles southeast of Kansas City. On Thanksgiving Day, 1936, Charlie traveled with a band to play the grand opening of Musser’s Ozark Tavern, located near Eldon, Missouri. On the way, the car Charlie was traveling in hit a slick spot and flipped over. The force of the accident killed the bandleader George Wilkerson and fractured Charlies’ back and ribs. Charlie convalesced at home under the watchful eye of Addie. In the summer of 1937, Charlie played and extended engagement with the George E. Lee Band at the Ozark Tavern. Surrounded by racially hostile territory, band members kept a low profile and stayed at the resort. After hours, Charlie practiced his saxophone, mastering chord changes, substitutions, voicing and inversions. Charlie came of age musically that summer spent in the Ozarks.
Charlie Parker at the Jelly Joint by LaBudde Special Collections, The University of Missouri-Kansas City |American Jazz Museum
Once back in Kansas City, Charlie became an in-demand soloist. In March 1938, Charlie joined alto saxophonist Buster Smith’s band at Lucille’s Paradise, a popular nightspot in the heart of 18th and Vine. Smith mentored Charlie onstage, teaching him how play double time and glide in and out of key.
Harlan Leonard's HeadshotAmerican Jazz Museum
After Smith moved to New York, Charlie joined pianist Jay McShann’s band at Martin’s on the Country Club Plaza, an upscale shopping district. On the side, he played with drummer Jesse Price’s band at the Jelly Joint, a malt shop, frequented by University of Kansas City students.
In November 1938, Charlie switched to the Harlan Leonard Band. Charlie became a star soloist with the Leonard Band, billed as the “Saxophonist Supreme”.
Harlan Leonard's Kansas City Rockets at Gold Crown ad feat. Charlie Parker (1938-11-11) by The Kansas City Call archives, part of the Kansas City Public Library |American Jazz Museum
The no nonsense Leonard soon let the notoriously unreliable Charlie go. Harlan later recalled, “We could never count on him showing up.”
Harlan Leonard's Kansas City Rockets at Dreamland Hall ad feat. Charlie Parker (1938-12-23) by The Kansas City Call archives, part of the Kansas City Public Library |American Jazz Museum
Feeling dejected and not getting along with Rebecca, Charlie hopped a freight train for New York, hoping to reunite with his musical father Buster Smith.
Yardbird's Songs
Each online exhibit of Saxophone Supreme ends with two songs played by Charlie Parker. Scroll over to the next slide to listen to a couple of his great hits.
Saxophone Supreme . Hootie Blues by The University of Missouri-Kansas City |American Jazz Museum
The third song featured among the four digital exhibits is "Hootie Blues," performed Jay McShann and His Orchestra featuring Charlie Parker on saxophone.
St Louis Mood . Saxophone Supreme by The University of Missouri-Kansas City |American Jazz Museum
The fourth song featured among the four digital exhibits is "St. Louis Mood," performed Jay McShann and His Orchestra.
Content provided by the American Jazz Museum and Chuck Haddix of UMKC Libraries and LaBudde Collections.
Curation: Geri Sanders & Chuck Haddix
Installation and Research: Katharine Molnar
Exhibit Design: Sean McCue & Marissa Baum
Digitization: Luke Harbur
americanjazzmuseum.org
