I went to see a student sing with Notre Dame’s jazz band on Tuesday. She did a great job! I was also reminded of this great tune by Charlie Parker, the jazz saxophonist and composer: “Anthropology.” I found this good clip by Czech saxophonist František Kop. Of course the anthropologist has to have Anthropology in a globalized setting… in this case, the jazz club U malého Glena (Little Glen) in Prague.

You can hear Parker himself on this online recording available at Imeem.

Charlie Parker would be a great person to dwell on for some neuroanthropology. Just not today. But Robert Philen, an anthropologist at West Florida, has a good riff on Parker and how biography informs our appreciation of artistry. And for a long bio, see Parker on Wikipedia. Cultural icon, brilliant musician, heroin addict, the Bird knew how to play.