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Charlie Parker opens the solo section on alto sax, stretching out for one chorus at approximately 117 BPM. Set within a swinging rhythmic framework, the 36-bar AABA form and the key of A♭, the solo navigates the chord changes with purpose. As a contrafact on "All The Things You Are," the underlying harmony is well-trodden territory, giving the soloist a sturdy platform for creative exploration. As the first voice heard after the head, Parker sets the improvisational tone before passing to Miles Davis. This is one of Parker's most revered performances: his one-chorus alto saxophone solo unfolds with extraordinary melodic beauty and harmonic depth over Jerome Kern's rich chord progression.
Charlie Parker was 26 to 27 years old at the time.
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