TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
In 1988, Clint Eastwood directed Bird, a powerful biographical film about saxophone legend Charlie Parker.
Starring Forest Whitaker in a career-defining role, the movie captures Parker’s genius, struggles, and the turbulent life that shaped modern jazz.
Eastwood, a lifelong jazz devotee, approached the project with deep respect, weaving Parker’s brilliant improvisations with the personal battles of addiction, racism, and relentless creativity.
What sets Bird apart is its soundtrack. Original Parker recordings were isolated and re-engineered so contemporary musicians could accompany them, creating a vivid, authentic soundscape.
The film doesn’t shy away from Parker’s demons but celebrates the brilliance that made him a central figure in bebop and beyond.
Through Bird, Eastwood ensured Charlie Parker’s story reached new generations.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and South Carolina Public Radio, made possible by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina.