Charlie Parker’s 60 Melodies & Solos by Parker, Charlie

Move over “Omnibook”, there is a new, more comprehensive and more accurate complete collection of the works of Charlie Parker. Michael Van Bebber has painstakingly transcribed and edited all of Charlie Parker’s solos while correcting of over 1,000 errors contained in the original “Omnibook.”

In the download above you will enjoy easy-to-read notation with 4 measures per line, whenever possible, along with large, legible chord symbols. Key signatures are retained throughout for ease of reading, and trumpet parts have been included with counter-melodies (ossia staff) and harmonies. The entire book is in alphabetical order for easy location of tunes by title.

There are 5 variations of the book which you can choose from the dropdown menu above. You can purchase Concert Treble Clef, Eb, Bb trumpet, Bb Tenor (transposed up a Major 9th) and Bass Clef (transposed 8vb), or you can get the entire collection at a steep discount for collaborating with colleagues.

Each tune includes complete personnel and recording information listed under each title. Note spellings are by function, meaning notes are spelled according to their chord tones on arpeggios and diatonic lines (except where lines are easier to read in stacks of 3rds instead of augmented 2nds, etc.), and chromatically for chromatic lines (sharps for ascending and flats for descending chromatic passages). This makes the solos much easier to read in real-time. Rehearsal numbers have been added at the start of each chorus, this allows for easy identification of choruses, intros and sendoffs.

Each version of the book 162 pages, so a purchase of the complete collection above gets you an incredible 810 page collection. Check out the first tune as transposed for each instrument in the samples, then grab an immediate PDF download above.

Testimonials

“The book is great. An iconic jazz reference book has just gotten better! The Charlie Parker Omnibook, a classic tool for saxophonists and improvisers, received a needed overhaul by Michael Van Bebber. Besides catching and correcting a variety of errors, he has included the personnel at the beginning of each transcription. I have already enjoyed sharing this book with my students.”

Ted Nash, Grammy-award-winning saxophonist and composer, alto saxophonist in the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra (directed by Wynton Marsalis).

“Whenever I start a lesson program with a new student, one of the first books they need to acquire is the Charlie Parker Omnibook. However, inconsistencies and lack of accurate notation sometimes made the experience frustrating. With Michael’s new, meticulous transcriptions and information about the recordings, the student can really get an accurate experience and understanding of the architect of the bebop language.”

Francisco Torres, Grammy-award-winning trombonist, Member of Poncho Sanchez’ band.

Full Song Listing

1. Ah-Leu-Cha
2. An Oscar For Treadwell
3. Another Hairdo
4. Anthropology
5. Au Privave (No. 1)
6. Au Privave (No. 2)
7. Back Home Blues
8. Ballade
9. Barbados
10. Billie’s Bounce
11. The Bird
12. Bird Gets The Worm
13. Bloomdido
14. Blue Bird
15. Blues (Fast)
16. Blues For Alice
17. Buzzy
18. Cardboard
19. Celebrity
20. Chasin’ The Bird
21. Cheryl
22. Chi Chi
23. Confirmation
24. Constellation
25. Cosmic Rays
26. Dewey Square
27. Diverse (Segment)
28. Donna Lee
29. K.C. Blues
30. Kim (No. 1)
31. Kim (No. 2)
32. Klaunstance
33. Ko Ko
34. Laird Baird
35. Leap Frog
36. Marmaduke
37. Merry-Go-Round
38. Mohawk (No. 1)
39. Mohawk (No. 2)
40. Moose The Mooche
41. My Little Suede Shoes
42. Now’s The Time (No. 1)
43. Now’s The Time (No. 2)
44. Ornithology
45. Parker’s Mood
46. Passport
47. Perhaps
48. Red Cross
49. Relaxin’ With Lee
50. Scrapple From The Apple
51. Segment
52. Shaw ‘Nuff
53. She Rote (No. 1)
54. She Rote (No. 2)
55. Si Si
56. Steeplechase
57. Thriving On A Riff
58. Visa
59. Warming Up A Riff
60. Yardbird Suite