Charles McPherson Reacts to a Rare Charlie Parker Solo

Man, I can’t tell you how much this episode meant to me! To have the opportunity to sit and listen to the master Charlie Parker alongside one of today’s great masters, Charles McPherson, was truly a dream come true. This moment hit on so many levels for me. It brought me right back to being a kid, listening to Bird with my grandfather. Those experiences helped shape my love for this music, and if you know me, you already know that Bird is EVERYTHING to me musically! In this episode, Charles and I listen to an incredibly rare live recording of Charlie Parker playing “All the Things You Are,” captured by Dean Benedetti. What makes this even more special is that Charles had never heard this particular recording before! To experience it together and hear his thoughts on Bird’s genius, phrasing, time, and musical imagination was just unbelievable. These are the kinds of moments I dreamed about sharing when I started To Be or Not To Bop. Getting to spend time with the masters, hearing their stories, learning from their experiences, and most importantly, sharing that knowledge and love for this music with all of you. I really hope you enjoy this one! And please be patient with us! The FULL interview with Charles McPherson is coming soon. We have so much more from this incredible conversation to share, along with more interviews, rare recordings, and musical discoveries. We’re just getting started, y’all! To Be or Not To Bop? That is the question! 🎺 Support To Be Or Not To Bop: https://ko-fi.com/tobeornottobop If you enjoy the content, please LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE! It really helps us continue bringing these stories and this music to you. Let me know in the comments: What’s your favorite Charlie Parker recording? And what do you hear in Bird’s playing that makes him so special? #CharlieParker #CharlesMcPherson #Bebop #JazzHistory #JazzLegends #Bird #ToBeOrNotToBop