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

Charlie “Yardbird” Parker!

Aug
21
Sun
Sunday Jazz Brunch at The Phoenix (with Millie Edwards & Dan Sturdevant) @ The Phoenix
Aug 21 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Join pianist Dan Sturdevant and vocalist Millie Edwards
On Sunday, August 21st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Celebrating their 6th Year at The Phoenix Jazz Club

Liz Goodwin writing in the Pitch July 2022 issue about The Phoenix brunch:

“Millie Edwards with Dan Sturdevant…people come because they love music.”

You’ll like this popular Kansas City Sunday food and live music and scene.

302 W 8th St. Kansas City, MO 64105 | ThePhoenixKC.com | 816-221-5299

Aug
22
Mon
CD Release Morgan Faw and The Flame + Jam Session with Houston Smith @ The Blue Room
Aug 22 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

SPOTLIGHT: CHARLIE PARKER EVENT

It Takes a Village – CD Release Performance featuring Morgan Faw and The Flame 
With a special edition of the famous “Blue Monday Jam Session” co-hosted by Houston Smith and Morgan Faw. (*Special Guest Appearance by: Bobby Watson) @ The Blue Room

Aug 22 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
First Set: “It Takes a Village” CD Release Concert Featuring: Morgan Faw and The Flame
Morgan Faw, saxophone
Alonzo Demetrius, trumpet
Miles Lennox, piano
Isaac Coyle, bass
Christian Napoleon, drumset

Morgan Faw was raised musically in Kansas City. This album release performance is his first of many expressions of gratitude to the greater KC community of artists, musicians, teachers, friends, and family who helped shape and raise him.

Morgan Faw, alto saxophonist, and composer


Recorded in April 2022, his debut album, “It Takes a Village” (ARC-8777), Artists Recording Collective – ARC Records, was completed on two separate days. The recording features all original music by Faw collaborating with trumpeter Will Mallard and one composition written by Pamela Watson

“This is my first step and attempt in truly giving back to those who taught me,” says Faw. “I want to celebrate this album with everyone who helped me. And to be able to release this project in The Blue Room at 18th and Vine is a dream come true. The historic Jazz District had been my musical home and arts family growing up. There is nowhere else I would want to celebrate this achievement.”

The community is invited to this celebratory event and open jam session to follow, “It Takes a Village.”

With a special edition of the famous “Blue Monday Jam Session” co-hosted by Houston Smith and Morgan Faw. 

Houston Smith, alto saxophonist, and composer
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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