I got to thinking, you know, just thinkin' as one does about Charlie Parker. The man was such a genius I often wondered where he came from and where he would have gone if he'd lived.
I know he came from Kansas City (tell me who didn't know that! on a blues night anywhere in the world everyone is going to KC) but I've spent a lot of years wondering about where he came from musically.
Bird himself has always quoted fellow Kansas City musician Buster Smith as his mentor and Buster, nicknamed The Professor, was undoubtedly a prime influence. Maybe Fess Williams too but whatever/whoever Buster Smith seems to have been the one.
All these names are bandied around but, for me, the first time I heard Bird the name that crossed my lips was Benny Carter. Benny wasn't a bopper although he could help them out when they were busy just as Hawkins did. Carter's tone wasn't unalike Bird's. He had the fluency but without the bite but, nevertheless, he came close. In the years that followed there were few who didn't slavishly follow Bird. Benny Carter was one of them.
Benny, as history shows, achieved his own greatness, Apart from being a soloist, bandleader, he was also a great arranger, composer and I'm sure he inspired Bird more than any of the other alto greats such as Hodges and Willie Smith.
Incidentally, Carter also played trumpet and, although he was a fine player, I don't think he influenced Dizzy.
So let's remember Bird tomorrow with the reverence he deserves and no one deserves it more than he but, remember, a bird also needs a nest and maybe Benny Carter was the one who provided it ...
Lance
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