Yardbird Suite

I tackle this jazz standard by Charlie Parker with my first Big Band arrangement! The lush horn section chords on sound very contemporary and I can see a direct line drawn from this to Steely Dan's blend of rock jazz. Indeed they did a track called "Parkers band" on their third album, Pretzel Logic.
It was written by Charlie Parker in 1946 hence the title derives from Parker's nickname "Bird", respectively "Yardbird". Far from being a suite, the song follows an AABA form. The "graceful, hip melody, became something of an anthem for beboppers."

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