check this out-
From Charlie Parkers first recording as a leader - the tune is Koko and is based on the chord changes to a popular tune "Cherokee"
First listen to a recording of Cherokee - a great jazz standard on its own
Now, listen to what Bird did with it. This is not Avant Gard or outside jazz, this is a perfect piece of music that once analyzed shows a brillaint understanding of complex musical harmonies. This recording changed jazz forever. Now, when you hear so and so band was working on an album for YEARS, thsi reciording was made in a few minutes , with few rehearals, no over dubs, most likley no producer and the musicians are seeing this on paper a few minutes before the tape roles. Dizzy was a kindred spirit and knew what Parker was trying to do on this. This is pure brillinace.
In the end, all that matters is what you enjoy, to me calling something jazz means something, to say its not "harder" to play like this vs other music is plain crazy.
enjoy
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