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City Parks Foundation Presents the 26th Annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival
By: Kaitlin Milligan Aug. 21, 2018
City Parks Foundation's SummerStage is proud to announce the 26th Anniversary celebration of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. The free festival is New York City's annual salute to the legendary late saxophonist, featuring storied veteran players as well as young jazz musicians who continue to shape and drive the art form. This year's festival runs August 22 through August 26 at parks and venues around Manhattan and will include free concerts, panel discussions, and workshops - focused in Harlem where Parker worked and in the East Village where Parker lived.
This year's festival highlights include Charles Tolliver's 50 Year Anniversary of Paper Man on Friday, August 24th in Marcus Garvey Park from 7-9PM. This free performance, produced in association with Revive Music, will honor Jazz trumpeter Tolliver's 1968 album that was praised for its avant-garde approach and will feature special live performances by renowned jazz musician Gary Bartz, jazz-fusion multi-instrumentalist Jack DeJohnette and Buster Williams, the bassist responsible for backing Herbie Hancock. Vocalist Brianna Thomas will kick off the evening, in association with Jazzmobile.
On Saturday, August 25, Monty Williams and the Harlem Kingston Express will take the stage at Marcus Garvey Park from 3-7PM. Named the fifth greatest jazz pianist ever in "The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time," Williams takes boogie-woogie, folk, and calypso style and melds it into jazz for an unforgettable live performance. He'll be performing alongside Grammy-nominated vocalist Catherine Russell, piano wunderkind Matthew Whitaker, and trumpeter Keyon Harrold, who was dubbed "the future of the trumpet" by Wynton Marsalis.
On Sunday, August 26 from 3-7PM, the festival travels back downtown to the place where it all began, Tompkins Square Park, located just blocks away from Charlie Parker's home in the East Village. The performance will feature one of the greatest alto saxophonists Gary Bartz performing alongside his quartet. They will perform with longtime gospel, blues, and jazz pianist, Amina Claudine Myers, the boundary-breaking trio The Bad Plus, and UNHEARD, a piece honoring Charlie Parker featuring musicians Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross, and Adam O'Farrill commissioned in association with The Joyce and George Wein Foundation under the artistic supervision of The Jazz Gallery.
In addition to these three days of live performances, City Parks Foundation has also partnered with local institutions to present free and open-to-the-public jazz events around the city. Events include an all ages Family Jazz Party with Festival performer Adam O'Farrill, a film screening of Milford Grace Full Mantis at The Maysles Documentary Center, a tribute to Paul Motian at The New School, live jazz in the gardens at The Harlem Rose Garden and 6BC Botanical Garden, and more.
A full schedule of Charlie Parker Jazz Festival Performances and Partner Events are listed below. For more information, please visit https://cityparksfoundation.org/charlieparker.
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival Partner Events
Wednesday, August 22
What: Family Jazz Party with Adam O'Farrill and Immanuel Wilkins
When: 2:00PM
Where: The National Jazz Museum in Harlem -- 58 W 129th St, Manhattan
About: Join musicians O'Farrill and Wilkins for an afternoon of dancing and music making.
Note: $10 suggested donation, RSVP at http://www.jmih.org/, ages 5+
What: 50th Anniversary of Paper Man: A Conversation with Charles Tolliver & Gary Bartz, in association with Revive Music
When: 7:00PM
Where: The National Jazz Museum in Harlem -- 58 W 129th St, Manhattan
About: Join jazz trumpeter Tolliver and jazz musician Bartz as they discuss Tolliver's debut album, Paper Man.
Note: $10 suggested donation, RSVP at www.jmih.org
What: Screening: Milford Graves Full Mantis
When: 7:30PM
Where: The Maysles Documentary Center -- 343 Malcolm X Blvd (Lenox Ave.) btw.127th & 128th Sts., Manhattan
About: First ever feature-length portrait of renowned percussionist and founding pioneer of avant-garde jazz, Milford Graves. Graves shares stories of discovery, struggle and survival, the essence of 'swing,' and his adventures in jazz from his local neighborhood in South Jamaica, Queens. The event will be followed by a Q&A with Milford Graves and director Jake Meginsky
Note: Free with RSVP at www.maysles.org/calendar/milford-graves-full-mantis
Thursday, August 23
What: Paul Motian Tribute
When: 5:30 - 7:00PM
Where: School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School -- 55 West 13th Street, 5th floor, Jazz Performance Space,Manhattan
About: Filmmaker Michael Patrick Kelly answers questions and presents excerpts from the documentary Motian in Motion, which follows the late Paul Motian - American jazz drummer, percussionist and composer. The Q&A is followed by a special Motian tribute trio performance. Followed by a Q&A and special Motian tribute trio performance.
Note: Seating is limited. Free with RSVP at charlieparker@cityparksfoundation.org
What: Jazz in the Garden: George Braith in association with The Jazz Foundation of America and Ariana's List
When: 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Where: 6BC Botanical Garden -- 622 East 6th St., btw. Avenues B & C, Manhattan
About: Live neighborhood jazz performance in the East Village where Charlie Parker lived with saxophonist George Braith.
Note: Free, no reservations required
Friday, August 24
What: Jazz in the Garden: Antoine Roneyin association with The Jazz Foundation of America and Ariana's List
When: 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Where: Harlem Rose Garden -- 6 E. 129th St., Manhattan
About: Live neighborhood jazz performance in the Harlem, home of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, with tenor and soprano saxophonist, Antoine Roney.
Note: Free, no reservations required
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival Performances
Friday, August 24
What: Charles Tolliver's 50 Year Anniversary of Paper Man - Featuring Gary Bartz, Jack DeJohnette, Buster Williams + Surprise Guest / Brianna Thomasin association with Revive Music and Jazzmobile
When: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Where: Marcus Garvey Park -- 124th St. & Fifth Ave., Manhattan
About: In 1968, Jazz trumpeter Charles Tolliver recorded his debut album, Paper Man. Praised for its explorative, avant-garde approach, the record includes six of Tolliver's original compositions, and features renowned jazz musicians Gary Bartz, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Joe Chambers. Produced in association with Revie Music, Tolliver will perform alongside Bartz to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the completion of this groundbreaking album. Additional guests include jazz-fusion multi-instrumentalist Jack DeJohnette and bassist Buster Williams, who has performed with Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk and Bobby McFerrin. Vocalist, Brianna Thomas will kick off the evening, in association with the Jazzmobile.
Saturday, August 25
What: Monty Alexander - Harlem Kingston Express / Catherine Russell / Keyon Harrold / Matthew Whitaker Trio
When: 3:00 - 7:00 PM
Where: Marcus Garvey Park -- 124th St. & Fifth Ave., Manhattan
About: Monty Alexander was named the fifth in "The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time," and it's not hard to see why. The storied, Kingston-born musician cut his teeth playing boogie-woogie, folk, and calypso tunes, and melded them into a rich jazz tradition. He'll be performing at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival alongside Grammy-nominated vocalist Catherine Russell, piano wunderkind Matthew Whitaker, and trumpeter Keyon Harrold, who was dubbed "the future of the trumpet" by Wynton Marsalis.
Sunday, August 26
What: Gary Bartz Quartet / The Bad Plus / Amina Claudine Myers / Unheard: Adam O'Farrill, Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross
When: 3:00 - 7:00 PM
Where: Tompkins Square Park-- E. 7th St. & Ave. A, Manhattan
About: Hailed as one of the greatest alto saxophonists since Cannonball Adderley, Gary Bartz will perform alongside his quartet. The day also includes longtime gospel, blues, and jazz pianist Amina Claudine Myers, the boundary-breaking trio The Bad Plus, and UNHEARD, the premiere of a new commission honoring Charlie Parker featuring musicians Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross, and Adam O'Farrill. UNHEARD is commissioned in association with The Joyce and George Wein Foundation under the artistic supervision of The Jazz Gallery.
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