Ornithology, recorded March 28, 1946, is one of the defining compositions of the bebop era, based on the chord changes of How High The Moon with a 32-bar ABAB' form in the key of G. Performed by the Charlie Parker Septet at approximately 223 BPM, the recording features Parker's one-chorus alto saxophone solo, followed by a full chorus from Miles Davis on trumpet and a full chorus from Lucky Thompson on tenor saxophone. Co-credited to Parker and trumpeter Benny Harris, the melody's angular chromaticism and rhythmic displacement embody the bebop aesthetic. Parker's solo is characteristically inventive, threading through the modulating harmony with ease and generating melodic ideas that have been absorbed into the vocabulary of every subsequent jazz musician. Davis and Thompson each bring distinctive voices to their choruses, with Davis offering a more restrained approach and Thompson bridging the gap between swing-era tenor and bop. Ornithology remains one of the most commonly performed jazz standards and an essential vehicle for improvisation, and this Dial recording is its foundational document.
