Kansas City Lightning (45 page)

Courtesy of James H. Fleet and Bird Lives.

Guitarist Biddy Fleet, who helped Charlie map the harmonic terrain of bebop.

Courtesy of the Frank Driggs Collection at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Duke Ellington in 1931. “Bird was totally influenced by Duke,” said singer Billy Eckstine. “He could say things in a classy way and they worked. Duke made everybody want to have more class.

Courtesy of the Frank Driggs Collection at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Singer Billy Eckstine

Courtesy Dwight Weaver/Miller County Museum, Miller County, Missouri.

Courtesy Dwight Weaver/Miller County Museum, Miller County, Missouri.

Courtesy Dwight Weaver/Miller County Museum, Miller County, Missouri.

Musser's Ozark Tavern, the Pendergast-backed resort where Charlie worked several stints starting in late 1936. It was while working in the Ozarks that Charlie started to transform his sound.

Courtesy of the Frank Driggs Collection at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Trumpeter Orville “Piggy” Minor, who observed Charlie at close range throughout his Kansas City years. Together they played in Buster Smith's band at the Antlers Club.

1940 tax photo, courtesy John Simonson, http://paris-of-the-plains.blogspot.com.

The Antlers Club. Musicians would take in the “freak shows” upstairs after hours.

Courtesy of the Frank Driggs Collection at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Skinny in his high-waisted pants, just turning eighteen, Charlie (right) clowns around with drummer Jesse Price, who helped persuade Buster Smith to hire him.

Courtesy of the Frank Driggs Collection at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Charlie with Gene Ramey, his frequent bandmate and traveling buddy in the Kansas City years.

Courtesy of the Frank Driggs Collection at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Jay McShann, photographed on his trip through Chicago in 1939. Charlie had blown through town not long before; locals were still talking about him when McShann arrived.

Courtesy of the Frank Driggs Collection at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The McShann sax section at the Savoy Ballroom, New York City. Left to right: Bob Mabane (tenor); Charlie Parker (alto); John Jackson (alto); Freddie Culliver (tenor).

Courtesy of the Frank Driggs Collection at Jazz at Lincoln Center.