Charlie Parker is thee monumental hero of jazz alto players. His style has so influenced bop that players have even been known to switch from alto to tenor in an effort to escape accusations of imitating his prevailing sound. Parker was the first bebop artist I became obsessed with, his recording of Star Eyes for Verve having taken my musical heart by storm. In the short time he was alive, he recorded an incomprhensible amount of work, and recordings of his are still being discovered today. To see a very impressive catalogue of his recording dates, visit Peter Losin's Charlie Parker Sessionography. Surprisingly, there is not a lot about Charlie Parker on the Web, considering his standing in jazz history. Here is a nice biography. And another. And here is where you musicians can get Charlie Parker sheet music. And then, of course, there is the infamous Bird Lives!, the only weekly online journal of jazz and jazz issues, featuring resources, tributes, sneak previews, and "diatribes" among its offerings. Bird Lives!, hosted by the mysterious Pariah, has been called the "Twilight Zone of Jazz." The site also features a different Charlie Parker site each week, which you will find when you go there and click on Bird's head. Finally, CMG Worldwide houses the Official Site of Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. | 
Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie |