Charlie Parker’s Iconic Recordings Burst on to the Stage

Jazz and classical worlds are finding common ground in a unique North Island tour inspired by jazz legend, Rodger Fox.

Maestro Fox is recreating two legendary recordings made by jazz saxophonist, Charlie Parker, in 1949 and 1950 when he showcased his arrangements with a small classical string section and jazz rhythm musicians, rather than his standard bebop quintet.

In the two recording sessions, Parker, a leading figure in the development of bebop, fulfilled a long-held desire to record in a string setting. Those legendary recordings were reissued by Verve Records in January 1995.

Such were their impact on the classical and jazz worlds that Rodger Fox is assembling stellar performers to present the distinctive sound to New Zealand audiences. However he hasn’t overlooked Parker’s contribution to bebop, and he’s commissioned new arrangements of Parker’s own compositions.

The North Island tour, entitled Charlie Parker With Strings, will feature Parker’s famous tracks from the Verve album plus the bebop sound characterised by fast tempos, virtuoso

technique and advanced harmonies.

The six venue tour concludes at Uxbridge Theatre, Howick, on Saturday, April 20.

To hear the swinging rhythms with lush strings and a bebop twist, Rodger has engaged famed American saxophone player, Dick Oatts, an ensemble of quality jazz performers and The New Zealand String Quartet.

Dick Oatts is an international soloist best known as the lead alto player in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra from the late 1970’s and still holds that role in its present day incarnation, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. He’s accompanied such vocalists as Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme and Milton Nascimento.

The programme includes popular US classics such as April In Paris, Temptation, Autumn In New York, Stella By Starlight, Lover and What Is This Thing Called Love? and new arrangements of Billies Bounce and Confirmation.

“Charlie Parker played a pivotal role in the development of jazz and is a legend both as a player and composer. Through this tour we are honouring him for his versatility, contribution and how he pushed the boundaries,” Rodger Fox says.

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