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(89) “Dexterity” and Barry Harris
Standards Rating 7 and Difficulty Rating 7
Charlie Parker’s 1947 composition “Dexterity” epitomizes bebop. Built on the chord changes of Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm,” its angular melody and flowing ii–V progressions reveal Parker’s genius for reshaping familiar structures into fresh, logical lines. The tune became a touchstone for generations, including pianist Barry Harris, one of bebop’s most devoted interpreters. Harris (1929–2021) absorbed Parker’s language deeply, blending it with the influence of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. His trio performance of “Dexterity” on “Magnificent!” demonstrates this lineage: Harris states the melody with clarity, launches into solos steeped in bebop vocabulary, and leads the rhythm section through crisp exchanges before returning to the head. Beyond performance, Harris ensured that Parker’s innovations lived on through his legendary workshops, where he taught bebop as both a musical system and a philosophy of community. In playing and teaching, Harris embodied Parker’s belief that bebop was the foundation of modern jazz.