Riff Blues

Chapter 8 studies the Parker-composed blues that are based on riffs. There are surprisingly few of these as compared to through-composed blues: only ten, and of these two are early pieces: “Hootie Blues” and “The Jumpin’ Blues,” both attributed to Jay McShann as co-composer. These early pieces follow the classic blues formula of a call, a repeated call, and then a contrasting response (aab form), which occurs in only one other Parker tune, “Now’s the Time,” which may be his best-known work. Of Parker’s blues tunes based on riffs, one is unique: “Happy Bird Blues,” which was transcribed from a live improvisation and issued posthumously as a composition.