Were Charlie Parker And Don Drummond Musical Twins?

Their birth dates were not the same (Parker August 1920/Drummond March 1932) so biological twins is not what is intended.

The type of music they played was also different.

I met Charlie Parker as a young lad being inducted into jazz by my cousin. I met Charlie at the same time as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. John was a bit too deep for me. Dave Brubeck came along with Paul Desmond. Desmond was just mesmerizing. He was so cool. He dampened my enthusiasm and appreciation of Charlie Parker.

My introduction to Don Drummond came years later through the medium of dance music. The Skatalites were all the rage. One night at the UWI Student’s Union will live on my memory. “Please, please don’t crowd the bandstand”, pleaded the MC as everyone wanted to be as close as possible to one of the most skilful aggregation of musicians ever assembled anywhere on the planet.

I should link Roland Alphonso or even Tommy McCook the sax players to Charlie Parker. However, it is not the instrument that causes me to tie Parker and Drummond together.

I just watched a documentary on Charlie Parker and one thing that stood out was the “never ending solo” that he blew. The documentary suggested that the drummer had to throw part of his equipment at his feet to get Parker to stop.

That was vintage Don Drummond!

Don would stand quietly for long periods. But when he got inspired he would blow and blow and blow.

Both Parker and Drummond did the unexpected with their instruments. Listening was an adventure.

Unfortunately, they both had bouts of mental illness and departed relatively early (Parker at 34 in 1955/ Drummond at 37 in 1969)

They leave behind exciting catalogues.

Click the links below to meet Charlie Parker and Don Drummond.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWufkk1iAgs&feature=related   Don Drummond Man in the street

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_j4Bkj8oQk&feature=related  Don Drummond Addis Ababa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZYaSkhRhoE&feature=related Charlie Parker Beebop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsAMAIaas94&feature=related Charlie Parker Ornithology