Ko-Ko, recorded November 26, 1945, is widely regarded as one of the single most important recordings in the history of jazz. Built on the chord changes of Cherokee, this blazing performance by Charlie Parker's Reboppers features Parker's astonishing two-chorus alto saxophone solo at approximately 302 BPM over a 64-bar AABA form in B-flat. The velocity and harmonic precision of Parker's improvisation set a new benchmark for what was possible on the instrument, negotiating Cherokee's notoriously difficult bridge modulations with breathtaking fluency. Max Roach contributes a propulsive half-chorus drum solo that matches Parker's intensity. The famous introduction, featuring Parker and Dizzy Gillespie in unison and trading phrases, has become one of the most iconic passages in recorded jazz, though Gillespie's trumpet was replaced by Miles Davis for the body of the session. Ko-Ko announced the arrival of bebop as a fully formed musical revolution and remains an essential reference point for understanding the transformation of jazz in the mid-1940s. It is a landmark achievement in American music.
