Anthropology (composition) Anthropology (composition) "Anthropology" (also known as "Thriving from a Riff" or "Thriving on a Riff") is a bebop-style jazz composition that is credited to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Parker stated in 1949 that Gillespie had played no part in its writing, and that others had added the trumpeter as co-composer. It is a contrafact, being based on the harmony of "I Got Rhythm". The first recording of the composition, then known as "Thriving from a Riff", was made on November 26, 1945, by an ensemble led by Parker. The other musicians were trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Argonne Thornton, bassist
Monterey Jazz Festival Eric Dolphy & Wes Montgomery, Carmen McRae, George Shearing Quintet, Odetta, and Jimmy Rushing 1962 Louis Armstrong All-Stars, Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Carmen McRae, Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Stan Getz Quartet, Quincy Jones & the Monterey Jazz Festival Orchestra 1963 Carmen McRae, Miles Davis Quintet, Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk Quartet, Jon Hendricks, Harry James Orchestra, Jimmy Witherspoon, The Andrews Sisters & the Gospel Song, and Helen Merrill, Joe Sullivan 1964 Duke Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Miles Davis Quintet w/ Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter & Tony Williams, Gerry Mulligan, Thelonious Monk Quartet,