Lot 74
Vintage Alto Saxophone frequently played by Charlie Parker
Vintage Alto Saxophone (C.G. Conn Ltd. Model 6M - Naked Lady #M265110. circa - 1935) frequently played by Charlie Parker.
This alto sax was passed down from John Jackson to the late Ahmad Alaadeen with provenance that Jazz Legend Charlie Parker played it frequently, making it a very unique piece of American Jazz History.
Please notice that the "under-slung" octave key and the tuning mechanism are identically and uniquely located which clearly identifies both horns as Conn 6M Naked Lady alto saxophones.
Born in Kansas City, (July 24,1934 to August 15, 2010) Alaadeen was a 2nd generation Jazz musician who began playing the saxophone when he was in sixth grade. He lived and worked extensively in New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, and San Antonio, performing with Jay McShann, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Kenton, Lester Bowie, Gladys Knight, Della Reese, Sam Cooke, Smokie Robinson, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington Orchestra, T-Bone Walker, Claude “Fiddler” Williams, Little Willie John, The Tonight Show Band, The Count Basie Orchestra and countless other Blues and Jazz musicians. From 1948 - 1952, he attended R.T. Coles Vocational High School and studied under Leo H. Davis, a well-respected music teacher, who was reported to have also taught Charlie Parker. Alaadeen debuted as a professional with Davis’ concert band playing e-flat horn when he was 14 and his first major job was playing baritone sax with the great pianist-bandleader Jay McShann. In later years he would rejoin McShann on tenor. ( www.Alaadeen.com )
From the mid 1970s to the late 80s, Alaadeen was on staff at the Charlie Parker Memorial Foundation in Kansas City Missouri. He was involved in curriculum development, teaching and performance activities. During the 80s, times were hard for the Foundation and Alaadeen did not receive monetary compensation for his services but was given this horn as pay by the Charlie Parker Memorial Foundation's founder, Eddie Baker.
The sax was owned by John Jackson. Jackson's widow told Alaadeen that this was John Jackson's horn and that Charlie Parker would borrow it frequently. He had no reason to doubt her as he knew of Jackson's association and friendship with Bird. Jackson was in Jay McShann's band along side "Bird" (Please see the attached image of the Jay Band.) During the 1940s, McShann was at the forefront of blues and hard bop jazz musicians mainly from Kansas City. He assembled his own big band, with musicians that included some of the most influential artists of their time, including Charlie Parker and John Jackson (who rivaled Parker as a soloist). This kind of music became known as "the Kansas City sound".
Alaadeen also knew that Bird and Jackson both lived in the same Kansas City, Kansas area and it was well known that Bird borrowed and played many different altos. Attached are photos from the biography "Bird Lives" by Ross Russell, of Bird playing different horns. One is a picture of this particular horn and according to documentation, this picture was taken in Kansas City. (See the attached image of Bird with the horns).
Charlie Parker is buried at Lincoln Cemetery, 8604 E. Truman Road, Kansas City, Missouri. For over 30 years Alaadeen participated in a grave site celebration honoring Bird's birthday. Saxophonists would surround the grave and play Parker's composition "Now's The Time" in tribute. Myra Brown, Bird's cousin, and other family members attended. Since 2004, Alaadeen played this horn leading other saxophonists in a sax salute. Bobby Watson, world renowned saxophonist and director of the Jazz Program at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, would finger the keys in hopes of receiving inspiration.
Alaadeen had a complete mechanical restoration done on the horn but kept it totally original to hold its value without any modifications other than a different style of pads, which is very common. No buffing of the lacquer was done.
Estimate: $30,000 - $40,000