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Charlie Parker opens the solo section on alto sax, stretching out for one chorus at approximately 195 BPM. Set within a swinging rhythmic framework, the 32-bar ABCB form and the key of B♭, the solo navigates the chord changes with purpose. As a contrafact on "When I Grow Too Old to Dream," 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 J. J. Johnson. The ABCB form is an unusual structure that differentiates this tune from the more common AABA vehicles in Parker's repertoire, providing a less predictable harmonic pathway for the soloists.
Charlie Parker was 26 to 27 years old at the time.
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