7 The 100 Most Influential Musicians of All Time 7York City and on tours to major U.S. cities and abroad,
played in a Gillespie concert at Carnegie Hall (1947),
recorded with Machito’s Afro-Cuban band (1949 –50), and
toured with the popular Jazz at the Philharmonic troupe
(1949). A Broadway nightclub, Birdland, was named after
him, and he performed there on opening night in late 1949;
Birdland became the most famous of 1950s jazz clubs.
The recordings Parker made for the Savoy and Dial
labels in 1945–48 (including the “Koko” session, “Relaxin’ at
Camarillo,” “Night in Tunisia,” “Embraceable You,” “Donna
Lee,” “Ornithology,” and “Parker’s Mood”) document his
greatest period. He had become the model for a generation
of young saxophonists. His alto tone was hard and ideally
expressive, with a crying edge to his highest tones and
little vibrato. One of his most influential innovations was
the establishment of eighth notes as the basic units of his
phrases. The phrases themselves he broke into irregular
lengths and shapes and applied asymmetrical accenting.
Parker’s most popular records, recorded in 1949 –50,
featured popular song themes and brief improvisations
accompanied by a string orchestra. These recordings came
at the end of a period of years when his narcotics and alcohol
addictions had a less disruptive effect on his creative life.
By the early 1950s, however, he had again begun to suffer
from the cumulative effects of his excesses; while hospital-
ized for treatment of an ulcer, he was informed that he
would die if he resumed drinking. He was banned from
playing in New York City nightclubs for 15 months. He
missed engagements and failed to pay his accompanying
musicians, and his unreliability led his booking agency to
stop scheduling performances for him. Even Birdland,
where he had played regularly, eventually fired him. His two-
year-old daughter died of pneumonia; his fourth marriage
fell apart. He twice attempted suicide and again spent
time in a mental hospital.