“Charlie Parker came into my life at a very early age… 14 to be exact. On the way to school, I would stop by my friend’s house and we would listen to his older brother’s jazz records… 78s. My favorite record was “Embraceable You” by Charlie Parker. We wore that record out! From that moment on, Charlie Parker became my musical guide to the saxophone.
Hearing him play, live and up close, is an experience that I will never forget. He had big fat fingers but I couldn’t see them move.”
Alaadeen remembers: “I first heard Charlie Parker on a record. I was on my way to school, and my friend’s older brother had a record of Bird playing “Embraceable You.” And me, not knowing how it’s supposed to sound, Bird said (Alaadeen hums the tune). That stayed in my mind for years until I heard Billy Eckstein (imitates Eckstein). That’s not Embraceable You; Bird didn’t play it that way. In my mind Bird was law. What ever he said, whatever he played was it. That’s the way it was.”