Charlie Parker
Alto Sax Solo on
Bird Gets the Worm

About

Charlie Parker opens the solo section on alto sax, stretching out for one chorus at approximately 364 BPM. Set within a swinging rhythmic framework, the 64-bar AABA form and the key of A♭, the solo tests the player's command at high velocity. As a contrafact on "Lover, Come Back to Me," 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. Parker's one-chorus alto saxophone solo at this extreme velocity is a staggering display of technical command, navigating the extended form and its harmonic complexities with seemingly effortless fluency.

Charlie Parker was 26 to 27 years old at the time.