“When I was with Lionel Hampton, we did a gig at the Strand Theater. Charlie Parker came in one day and he needed a fix so he asked Hamp if he would give him some money. Hamp said, “Charlie, if you sit in my reed section, I’ll give you fifty dollars.” Charlie Parker said, “Crazy.” So he sat in the section. There were five or six reeds in the section at the time. When Charlie Parker sat in the section, the whole band’s attitude changed. Everybody started to think. That is what I call really exerting an influence. You only … Continue reading Betty Carter remembers Charlie Parker

…giving off the energy we drew from him. We’re still drawing on it. His glass was overflowing. In any musical situation, his ideas just bounded out, and this inspired anyone who was around…Bird contributed more and received less than anybody.” — Max Roach Continue reading “Bird was kind of like the sun…