From Jazz: A Film By Ken Burns, Episode 7: “Dedicated to Chaos”.

Transcript:

Charlie Parker stretched the limits of human contradiction beyond belief. He was lovable and hateful, considerate and callous. He stole from friends and benefactors, and borrowed without conscience, and yet was generous to absurdity. He could be most kind to younger musicians or utterly crushing in his contempt for their ineptitude. He was passive, yet quick to pull a knife and pick a fight.

He was given to extremes of sadness and masochism — capable of the most staggering excesses and the most exacting physical discipline and assertion of will.

—Ralph Ellison