Constellation is a bebop composition by Charlie Parker built as a contrafact on the chord changes of I Got Rhythm. The tune features the intricate, harmonically dense melodic lines characteristic of Parker's most demanding compositions, weaving sophisticated bebop phrasing over the familiar rhythm changes framework. Parker recorded the tune on September 18, 1948, in New York City with his All Stars for Savoy Records, with Miles Davis on trumpet, John Lewis on piano, Curly Russell on bass, and Max Roach on drums. The recording appears on The Complete Savoy and Dial Master Takes compilation. As a rhythm changes contrafact, Constellation belongs to a well-populated category in Parker's output alongside pieces like Anthropology, Moose the Mooche, and Dexterity, all of which reimagine the harmonic foundation of Gershwin's I Got Rhythm with original bebop melodies. What sets Constellation apart is the particular brilliance and complexity of its melodic line, which has made it a favorite among transcription collections and jazz educators as a vehicle for studying Parker's compositional approach to rhythm changes. The tune appears in the Charlie Parker Omnibook and various Real Book editions, and remains a recognized part of the bebop repertoire, valued more as a deep cut for advanced players than as a ubiquitous jam session standard. Multiple sheet music editions attest to its ongoing presence in jazz education.
