by Matt Micucci
Each year, some of the finest musicians assemble in New York City for the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival to celebrate the legendary figure of saxophonist Charlie Parker.
This year marks the 22nd edition of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, and will run from the 21st to the 23rd of August at Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park, both in Manhattan. The event is organized by the City Parks Foundation and proudly features contemporaries of Parker himself, as well as young musicians that continue to shape and drive the art form.
This can clearly be seen in the lineup, that includes The King Solomon Hicks Trio, Oliver Lake and Rudresh Mahanthappa. In addition to performing during the course of the festival, Lake and Mahanthappa will also be having a discussion of Charlie Parker entitled “In the Spirit – Dedicated to the Bird” and “Bird Calls” on August 20 at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music‘s Jazz Performance Space.
Regarded as one of the most influential figures in jazz history, Charlie Parker – better known as “Bird” – was born in 1920. He is regarded as the inventor of bebop and one of the key innovators who helped bring jazz into the modern era. He died in 1955.
For a full schedule and lineup of the 22nd Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, visit cityparksfoundation.org