Charlie Parker

I didn't listen to any jazz yesterday so I am making up for it today- but actually is Charlie Parker jazz or bebop or both? I am hopelessly ignorant about all this. But I am on a mission to find out now. I would heartily recommend 'The Essential Charlie Parker' to anyone and everyone. It has kept me company all day and I have been having a great time, despite trying to get my head round critical analysis of 2 pieces of writing for my next creative writing seminar next Friday...not done anything like it for a while so it's been good to dust off my academic head and stick it on, in a slightly Worzel Gummidge kinda fashion. And now I'd better get back to it.