The Bird: Charlie "Bird" Parker, 1920-1955

Produced by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (in 1989), Jan Horne’s four-part film on the life of jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker is the definitive chronicle of Parker’s remarkable life. Divided into four chronological chapters, each features film clips and interviews that bring to life his brilliant career.

0:00:00 Part One, “Now’s the Time," examines Parker’s early years in Kansas City and his impact on fellow musicians - Dizzy Gillespie, John Lewis, Flip Phillips - after he came to New York in the 1940s.
***NOTE: The above description of part one (found online) does not appear to match part one of this video. Part One of this video is a visit with Parker's widow, Chan, in France. She explores her memories of him and their relationship. It seems to be a condensed version of the whole 3.5 hour series, not Part One.

0:55:12 Part Two, “Just Friends,” centers on the New York years and his collaborations with Red Rodney, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, and others.

1:49:29 Part Three, “What Is This Thing Called Love?” follows Parker to the West Coast and his collaborations with Chet Baker, Bud Powell, and Thelonious Monk.

2:43:23 Part Four, “Autumn in New York,” explores his broader artistic search with the help of composer Edgar Varese and painter Harvey Cropper and the overview of his life through the eyes of Chan Parker and others.

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Bird Interview excerpts:
0:03:42 Learning how to play
0:04:28 Playing "Body and Soul" at age 16-17
0:26:50 Downbeat award, 1951
1:15:02 Going to Paris

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Interview excerpts with others:
1:27:51 Kenny Clarke
1:33:00 Bob Dorough
1:07:24 Al Haig
1:20:54 Roy Haynes on replacing Max Roach
1:36:34 Roy Haynes on what it was like playing with Bird
1:13:40 Percy Heath on playing with Bird the first time
1:37:21 Percy Heath on what it was like playing with Bird
1:42:59 Milt Jackson, on his intellect
1:33:41 Elvin Jones on playing with Bird the first time
1:13:11 Red Mitchell on meeting Bird
1:02:00 Red Mitchell
1:11:24 Red Mitchell, on Barbados
1:09:52 James Moody
1:26:50 Max Roach
0:59:16 Red Rodney
1:17:26 Red Rodney, on replacing Miles Davis
1:43:28 Red Rodney, on his intellect
1:00:30 Lennie Tristano
1:38:12 Lennie Tristano

Видео The Bird: Charlie "Bird" Parker, 1920-1955 канала TheArchive