Claude Thornhill w/ Lee Konitz (1947) [YARDBIRD SUITE]

The Claude Thornhill Orchestra performing “Yardbird Suite”. Arranged by Gil Evans and featuring Lee Konitz on alto saxophone. Recorded December 17, 1947 in New York.

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Some notes about the composition as found on
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Composer: Charlie Parker

Year: 1946

Origin: Introduced on a session for Dial Records.

Style: Swing, played at variety of tempos.

Form: A-A-B-A (32 Bars) [8-8-8-8]

Key: C Major

Harmony/Overview: The harmony of this composition is mainly functional, and unlike many other Charlie Parker compositions it is not based on any pre-existing jazz standard. The A sections begin on IMaj7 and continue with a II - V of bIII. Instead of resolving to bIII however, it returns back to IMaj7 and is followed by bVII7 - VI7 before a final II - V returns back to the tonic. The melodies in the A sections are identical for the most part, although each ends slightly differently. The bridge begins by tonicizing IIImi and continues in a predictable fashion by cycling II - V's before returning to the tonic.

Recordings: This song has been recorded over 150 times to date. Charlie Parker first introduced it on a session for Dial Records in 1946. It continues to be performed frequently to this day and is one of the many Charlie Parker compositions that has found its place into the standard repertoire.

JGC Top Picks:
Claude Thornhill with Lee Konitz, 1947
Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Smith at the Organ Vol. 1, 1957
Roy Hargrove, Parker's Mood, 1995

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