Join us as we celebrate the life,
the music, and the iconic legacy
of Kansas City’s own:

Charlie “Yardbird” Parker!

Aug
26
Fri
“Ode 2 Bird” featuring Houston Smith + Morgan Faw and The Flame. @ The Blue Room
Aug 26 @ 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm

FRIDAY, August 26 from 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm is “Ode 2 Bird” showcasing the 2022 Spotlight: Charlie Parker “Artists in Residence” – Morgan Faw and Houston Smith, and featuring Faw’s band “The Flame.” @ The Blue Room

The Blue Room at the American Jazz Museum, Spotlight: Charlie Parker, and the Kansas City community welcome the return of natives, Houston Smith, and Morgan Faw, (also known as “The Blue Room Babies”) with their “Ode 2 Bird” concert, a Celebration of Charlie Parker and his Music and Legacy.

This performance will also feature the members of Faw’s working band, “The Flame.” 

Conceived by the two alto saxophonists in 2020, “Ode 2 Bird” came from their idea of “pushing the envelope open” through expanding and raising the standard of music coming from a younger generation…a rather Hungry Generation. This concert also realizes the hopes of Charlie Parker himself, who stated as much in a 1954 interview with his contemporary fellow saxophonist, Paul Desmond.

“Ode 2 Bird” features special renditions of compositions by Charlie Parker and Kansas City natives such as Bobby Watson along with the original works of Smith and Faw and more!

Personnel: 

  • Morgan Faw + Houston Smith – Alto Saxophones
  • Christian Napoleon – Drums
  • Isaac Coyle – Bass
  • Alonzo Demetrius – Trumpet
  • Miles Lennox – Piano
Aug
27
Sat
Annual Musical Salute to Charlie Parker @ Charlie “Bird” Parker Plaza
Aug 27 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Annual Musical Salute to Charlie Parker

Burnett Music Foundation was able to establish a strategic partnership in 2022 with the American Jazz Museum brings and its Bird Boot Camp’s “Musical Salute to Bird” finale to the Charlie Parker Memorial Plaza in the Historic 18th & Vine District.

The memorial is located directly behind the American Jazz Museum.

The Musical Salute will also act in synergy as a prelude to the AJM’s “In The Yard” concert at 5 pm.

PHOTOGRAPH: 2020 BIRD BOOT CAMP + MUSICAL SALUTE AT THE GEM THEATER WITH BOBBY WATSON LEADING THE TRIBUTE AT THE CHARLIE PARKER MEMORIAL.

The 2022 musical salute will be led by Artists in Residence, Houston Smith and Morgan Faw who anticipate being joined by jazz great Bobby Watson.

BRING YOUR INSTRUMENT AND PLAY ALONG

PHOTOGRAPH: 2021 BIRD BOOT CAMP + MUSICAL SALUTE AT THE FOLLY THEATER WITH RONALD McFADDEN LEADING THE TRIBUTE.

All musicians are welcome to participate in this brief performance tribute to Charlie Parker.

The Musical Salute traditionally symbolized the conclusion of Kansas City’s festive “Spotlight: Charlie Parker” week of celebration.

HISTORY OF THE MUSICAL TRIBUTE

The late Eddie Baker conceived a “21 Sax Salute” at Charlie Parker’s gravesite in Lincoln Cemetery where all of the area saxophonists would congregate to pay musical tribute to “Bird.” The tradition was resumed by Ahmad Alaadeen in 2002 up until his passing. The salute was conducted sporadically until the cemetery owner restricted public access to the historic site. Bird Boot Camp took up the “Musical Salute” as part of our programming in 2019 when Burnett Music Foundation took over administration.

PHOTOGRAPH: 2007 Charlie Parker Lincoln Cemetery Gravesite Tribute – Participating musicians shown (L-R) are: Horace Washington, David Basse, Stanton Kessler, Dan Jaffe, Bobby Watson, Kevin Gregg, Loren Pickford, Christopher Burnett, Ahmed Alaadeen, and Mike Corrigan.

CHARLIE PARKER MEMORIAL – BIRD LIVES

Artist/Designer: Robert Graham
Dedicated: March 1999
Description: Large face of Charlie Parker.  Green patina on face.  Trapezoidal base with brown patina.  “Bird Lives” inscription on the base.  The face was not cast but was pieced together in a grid-like pattern.

This sculpture memorializes legendary jazz artist Charlie “Bird” Parker.  He was a major part of the Kansas City jazz scene and culture.  It is located in the middle of a plaza, also named after Parker, in the historic Jazz District and just west of the American Jazz Museum at 18th and Vine Streets.

Inscription:

Charlie “Bird” Parker Plaza

Mayor Emanuel Cleaver II

Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners:  Ollie W. Gates, President; Sheila Kemper Dietrich, Commissioner; Anne Garney, Commissioner; Terry R. Dopson, Director

City Council:  Ed Ford, Teresa Loar, Jim Glover, Paul Danaher, Ronald E. Finley, Mary Williams-Neal, Evert Asjes III, Aggie Stackhaus, Ken Bacchus, Kelvin Simmons, George D. Blackwood, Judy Swope.

Robert Graham, Sculptor

In loving memory of Blanche Jones and Doris Jones-Stein.  Given by the Jules and Doris Stein Foundation, the Oppenheimer Brothers Foundation, and Tony and Marti Oppenheimer.

History courtesy of KC Parks.

 

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