IN STOCK - (Standard Edition) Chasin' The Bird: Charlie Parker In California Graphic Novel by Dave Chisholm w/ Foreword by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 

• Ltd. time only include an exclusive flexi disc record from Parker’s time in Los Angeles!

• Foreword by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!

Beautifully told by Dave Chisholm, this new Charlier Parker graphic novel tells the story of Bird’s time in L.A. -- starting in December 1945, where Bird and Dizzy Gillespie brought frenetic sounds of bebop from the East Coast jazz underground to the West Coast for a two-month residency at Billy Berg’s Hollywood Jazz Club.

This marked the beginning of a tumultuous two year-stint for Bird bumming around L.A., showing up at jam sessions, crashing on people’s couches, causing havoc in public places, and recording some of his most groundbreaking tracks, “A Night in Tunisia” and “Ornithology,” as well as “Relaxin’ At Camarillo,” inspired by the end of his time in SoCal at the Camarillo State Hospital.

The novel explores Bird’s relationship with the characters and events he encountered during his time in L.A. including recording some of his signature songs with Dial Record founder Ross Russell, a brief but influential stay at the home of famed jazz photographer William Claxton, a party for the ages at the ranch home of artist Jirayr Zorthian, and others who found themselves in the orbit of the jazz genius.

Chasin’ The Bird is named for Charlie Parker’s 1947 standard, and adapts one of the sunnier, but darker chapters in the life of Bird.

In conjunction with the graphic novel, Verve Records/UMe are currently working on a new album spanning Bird’s L.A. period that will be released in September.


Hardcover
8x12
Z2 Comics