▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 3 4 . ▁ ▁The ▁film ▁moves ▁back ▁and ▁forth ▁through ▁Parker ' s ▁history , ▁bl ending ▁moments ▁to ▁find ▁some ▁truth ▁to ▁his ▁life . ▁Much ▁of ▁the ▁movie ▁revol ves ▁around ▁his ▁only ▁ground ing ▁relationships ▁with ▁wife ▁Chan ▁Parker , ▁B eb op ▁pione er ▁tr ump et ▁player ▁and ▁band ▁leader ▁D iz zy ▁G illes pie , ▁and ▁his ▁influence ▁( both ▁mus ically ▁and ▁into ▁the ▁world ▁of ▁hero in ▁add iction ) ▁on ▁tr ump et ▁player ▁Red ▁Rod ney . ▁ ▁Plot ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁Kansas ▁City , ▁Missouri , ▁young ▁alto ▁sa x oph one ▁player ▁Charlie ▁" B ird " ▁Parker ▁( For est ▁Whit aker ) ▁performs ▁at ▁the ▁Ren o ▁Club . ▁However , ▁his ▁rapid ▁and ▁sp or adic ▁playing ▁gets ▁him ▁je ered ▁off stage . ▁Mov ing ▁to ▁New ▁York ▁City , ▁Charlie ▁begins ▁performing ▁at ▁different ▁jazz ▁ven ues ▁on ▁ 5 2 nd ▁Street ▁and ▁meets ▁tr ump eter ▁D iz zy ▁G illes pie ▁( Sam uel ▁E . ▁Wright ). ▁While ▁Charlie ▁performs ▁with ▁D iz zy , ▁their ▁specific ▁style ▁of ▁jazz ▁develop s ▁a ▁following ▁and ▁is ▁known ▁as ▁" b eb op ." ▁ ▁One ▁evening , ▁Charlie ▁meets ▁Chan ▁Parker ▁( D iane ▁Ven ora ), ▁a ▁dan cer ▁and ▁jazz ▁lo ver . ▁Att ract ed ▁to ▁Chan , ▁Charlie ▁contin ually ▁asks ▁her ▁out , ▁but ▁she ▁ref uses