How was Charlie Parker influential to Jazz?

Probably the three most influential improvisers in the history of jazz were Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. It's interesting that they were all horn players. Of these three, probably the person with the most profound influence was Charlie Parker. read more

Charlie Parker took jazz improvisation to another level. in the Swing area, most emphasis was on more "basic" scales and arpeggios, lots of attention to riffs around the melody. With Parker, and the bebop era. he was altering and coloring chords. using scales and arpeggios based on upper extensions of chords. read more

Parker's remarkable technique, fairly original sound, and ability to come up with harmonically advanced phrases that could be both logical and whimsical were highly influential. By 1950, it was impossible to play "modern jazz" with credibility without closely studying Charlie Parker. Born in Kansas City, KS, Charlie Parker grew up in Kansas City, MO. read more