The Omnibook is one of the most widely-used jazz resources available.  If you do not have this resource, you should DEFINITELY get it!  The Omnibook compiles written transcriptions of some of Bird’s best solos.

However, I have always thought the Omnibook was a frustrating resource because it used to be very difficult to track down ALL of the recordings that were transcribed. It doesn’t do NEARLY as much good to learn the solos without hearing them.  The written page does not do Bird justice.  Charlie Parker’s music should NOT be learned from the Omnibook only-you MUST listen to his recordings. Here is the answer to this problem!  Beneath this paragraph is a link to the majority of Bird’s recorded music transcribed for the Omnibook. In other words, this is the resource every jazz musician has been waiting for-the Omnibook on mp3! You can download the majority of Bird’s recorded music transcribed in the Omnibook from Amazon.com. It’s not a free resource, but neither is the Omnibook. It’s well worth having Bird’s priceless tracks:

It is not complete yet. I will finish finding the last few songs soon.  Download the songs from this resource-it’s a LOT EASIER than finding the tracks yourself!  It took a long time for me to compile this resource, as Bird recorded many of his songs multiple time, and I made sure to find the CORRECT recordings that correspond with the Omnibook.

Enjoy learning Bird’s solos using his recordings and the Omnibook (or if you’re really ambitious, using the recordings and your ear only!)  Learning his solos WILL improve your improvising, especially if you analyze what Bird does (note choice, phrasing, etc.)  It’s very beneficial for your phrasing to play along with Bird’s recordings, but I recommend using good slow-downer software at first, such as the Amazing Slow Downer. That is, unless you can immediately play at Bird’s tempos-which is no easy task!  Good luck!

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