THE TRIAL OF CHARLIE PARKER
“Bird’s fly over the rainbow, why oh why can’t I?”-E.Y.Harburg
INQ
Mr. Parker, how do you plead?
PARKER
No contest.
INQ
The City of New York is suspending your cabaret license.
PARKER
You’re denying me the right to blow my saxophone?
INQ
In licensed public places.
PARKER
You mean hte joints where they selldistilled liquid spirits?
INQ
Yes.
PARKER
You’re denying me the right to make a living.
INQ
We have a right ot protect our citizens–our children.
PARKER
From my music?
INQ
From your example. You’re not a good role model.
PARKER
Because the chord changes i play or the melodies i improvise
are beyond your comprehension or the intoxicants
that I like are not legal at the moment?
INQ
There are laws, Mr. Parker. We are a nation of laws.
PARKER
One nation under God. Isn’t that right? And God created
everything in six days and six nights – – and ti was good.
INQ
Mr. Parker?
PARKER
And it was very good.
INQ
I’m not following you.
PARKER
Then follow the yellow brick road.
INQ
Excuse me Mr. Parker?
PARKER
Powders & flowers & funghi, oh my!
INQ
Speak up Mr.Parker.
PARKER
And God created hops for beer, and grapes for wine,
and if Jesus Christ himself had smoked hashish,
ti would be legal and alcohol prohibited –
– like in Moslem countries.
INQ
Mr. Parker, the law is the law and must be respected.
PARKER
I am technically a free man in this land
and you are making choices for me
because my choice of plant refreshment
does not coincide with yours.
INQ
This is neither a theological – nor a gastronomical – inquiry, Parker.
PARKER
Until thirty years ago the State did not interest itself in what plants
were cultivated in this country. The founding fathers cultivated hemp.
And the women of the temperance movement used to relax
with a poppy tea called laudanaum.
INQ
Mr. Parker, the City of New York wil not tolerate your behavior.
Your cabaret license has been revoked.
PARKER
Al kinds of grapes are legal — but some weeds and flowers are not.
YOU CAN’t make it stick.
INQ
Of course we can – and we will! Just watch us.
**********
Tightrope 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nigOrDoH-T8
48:39
SHADES OF BLUE
BIRD BLEW
SHADES OF BLUE
BLACK SHADES
BLOOOOOOO
BIRD BLEW
SACRE BLEU
PARISIAN SHADES
CHAT BALLOU
BIRD BLEW
INDIGO
BEAT SHADES
IN DIG OHHHHS
BIRD BLEW
IN THE GHOST
EERIE SHADES OF
VAN GOGH
BIRD BLEW
ORE ANGELS
FRUITS OF HIS MINE
BOSCHIAN SHADES
OF MIND
BIRD BLEW
MINDS
SHADOWS INTO ORBIT
SPACY SHADES
OF TIME
BIRD BLEW
SPARE SILENCE
ELOQUENT SHADES
OF MIME
BIRD BLEW
VIOLETS
FROM TULIPS
MAGICAL LICKS
FROM TWO LIPS
********
from tightrope see webpage
and see you tube
Tightrope 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUpXqoe5HnI
00:00