Chris Parker was born in North Little Rock Arkansas. He learned his first lessons from Arkansas musicians, including Charles Thomas, Art Porter Sr., Bob Steele and Lee Tomboulian. In 1991, Chris moved to Memphis. He received his BA from the University of Memphis in 1991. There, he studied and learned with many musicians, including Gene Rush and Herman Green, Fred Ford and Calvin Newborn. Chris spent many years in New York City, where he studied with masters such as Benny Powell and Chris Anderson, Sonelius Smith (Bill Fielder), George Braith, Warren Smith, Warren Smith, Bill Fielder, and Sonelius Smith. Chris has performed in various performance and festival settings all across the south. He has worked in NYC, in clubs and other venues. He also has experience in other countries, including Portugal, France and Austria. Chris has worked/performed with Benny Powell, Frank Lacy, Michael Marcus, Warren Smith, Andy McCloud, Roy Campbell, Jr., Wendell Harrison, Kiane Zawi, Frank Lowe, Alvin Fielder, Joe Jennings, Earl May, Fred Ford, Herman Green. Informally, Rashied Ali and Frank Grant, Talib Kwwe, and Sonny Simmons were also present. Chris has performed at various venues such as the Paine College Jazz Festival, Augusta, GA, Jazz Lights, Little Rock, AR, Memphis in May Fest, Memphis, TN, Southern Heritage Fest, EyeDrum Performance Space, Atlanta, GA, Lenox Lounge, NYC, Knitting Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art, 1st Annual Brooklyn Jazz Fest, NYC, and Bell Atlantic Jazz Fest, NYC. Chris is active in education. He has worked as a teacher/artist with organizations including: Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp (New Orleans, LA), Mind Builders Arts School (Bronx, NY), Memphis Black Arts Alliance (Memphis, TN), Memphis Arts Council (Memphis, TN) from www.parkerandersonjazz.com
