Charlie Parker

Question 1

what type of improve did Parker use

Answer 1

formulaic, opening two bars of both alto sax solos use the same melodic idea but with different rhythms in Ko Ko

Question 2

what did Parker often play with

Answer 2

Arpeggios, b section of sax solo and in CODA of Ko Ko

Question 3

how did his solos contrast to others

Answer 3

Gillespie used fast quavers while Parker played with weird phrases and reused melodies, in Ko Ko a new melody is started in the A section but finished in the B
Davis solos were much more reflective and slower compared to Parkers, big pauses (apart from in BGTW were Davis matches Parkers speed since the piano solo is more reflective one

Question 4

what were Parkers melodies often based off

Answer 4

Chord extensions, in Koko in alto sax solo emphasis A, C and Eb which are the 9th, 11th and 13th over the Bb chord

Question 5

what is used in 3 pieces (harmonically)

Answer 5

pedal
Ko Ko- sustained F (V) at the end of the sax solo
Tunisia- repeated A in horns head riff
Bird of Paradise- sustained chords in opening

Question 6

what modulations are used in Ko ko

Answer 6

circle of 5ths in the sax solo from C# minor to Bb major

Question 7

what stops the resolution in Tunisia

Answer 7

V-II heard in head which is expected to go to D but it just repeated

Question 8

what key is BGTW in

Answer 8

Ab major, adventurous

Question 9

what is cheeky of Parker

Answer 9

finishes the opening phrase of his solo in Ko Ko with a syncopated Bb to Gb over an Fm7 chord

Question 10

what structure are they all in apart from a night in Tunisia

Answer 10

not head arrangements
AABA chorus structure of all apart from BGTW which is in 32 bar song form over 64 bars

Question 11

what instruments take a more active role

Answer 11

Drums- solo in Ko Ko, rhythms move around the kit with a dominance of snares at the end
Double Bass- explores higher registers (sax A1 of Ko Ko it descends from a high reg, pizz)

Question 12

change in orchestra

Answer 12

became smaller

Question 13

two techniques used in Tunisia

Answer 13

muted trumpet in Davis’ solo and blues growls in tenor solo

Question 14

what textures does Parker use

Answer 14

octaves (ko ko intro)
unison (rhythm section of Tunisia often in octaves)
melody and accompaniment (solos of bird gets the worm)

Question 15

what is the tempo like in Ko Ko

Answer 15

consistent (allows room for improv)

Question 16

Rhythm of Tunisia intro

Answer 16

based of Latin rhythms (beguine was a popular Caribbean rhythm in the swing) era

Question 17

Rhythm of Tunisia head

Answer 17

B section is in much more standard Jazz with swung rhythms and walking bass

Question 18

tempo marking for Bird gets the worm

Answer 18

340 bpm

Question 19

Solos in Tunisia rhythm

Answer 19

also much more in jazz tradition
drums dropping bombs
comping guitar
walking bass

Question 20

what is interesting about bird of paradise rhythms

Answer 20

alto sax solo B section, the bass and drums adopt an afro-Cuban rhythm