16 • September 2, 2021 - September 8, 2021
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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS & E N T E R T A I N
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Bird at 100 Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage held the 28th anniversary celebration of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. Few figures loom as large or cast as long a shadow as saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker, celebrated as a bebop pioneer and for bringing jazz into the modern era. The free festival (this year, celebrating what would have been Parker’s 100th birthday), is New York City’s annual salute to the legendary late saxophonist, featuring both contemporaries of Charlie Parker as well as young jazz musicians that continue to shape and drive the art form. This year’s festival was held at Harlem’s historic Marcus Garvey Park in addition to partnered jazz events around the city.
Jazz singer Shenel Johns
(Risasi Dais photos)
Jazz tenor saxophonist Donald Harrison performing with the Harlem Symphony Orchestra
Three jazz saxophone greats, Gary Bartz, Vincent Herring and Bobby Watson, at Bird at 100 during the 2021 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival
Legendary jazz drummer Carl Allen performing during Bird at 100
Amadi Azikiwe, music director of the Harlem Symphony Orchestra, being thankful for an incredible performance during the festival closing
Abdias Armenteros, the dynamic young jazz saxophonist, playing in Marcus Garvey Park
DC Jazz Fest, Nuyorican, Flushing, Charlie Parker jazz festivals in Europe or South Africa, the Washington, D.C. jazz festival is only three hours away by Amtrak. This year the DC Jazz Fest takes place during Labor Day weekend Sept. 1-5 at The Wharf, a waterfront destination with restaurants, shops, and stunning views. One thing this COVID-19 pandem- In this new normal pandemic world the ic has made perfectly clear is we aren’t festival is a hybrid conjunction of inas far apart as we may think, but for New person up close and live-streamed perYorkers it is more of a territorial thing. formances. Festival experiences will But after sheltering in place for over a include “Meet the Artist” conversations, year, jazz fans don’t mind traveling at and the DCJazzPrix international jazz least a few hours to see the live happen- band competition. ings. While some may not be ready to The largest festival in the nation’s capcheck out those exciting international ital will feature a robust line-up of per-
formers including violinist Regina Carter, John Scofield, Maria Schneider Orchestra, the ever-rising saxophonist/composer Lakecia Benjamin Presents: “Pursuance,” The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, D-Nice, The String Queens, Orrin Evans Presents “Terreno Comum,” and Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez among others. The festival will pay homage to the late D.C. and global jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist Andrew White. The concert will take place at the Westminster Presbyterian Church Sept. 2 and feature the Grammy-nominated pianist and Blackbyrds founding member
Kevin Toney, bassist Steve Novosel, drummer Keith Killgo, saxophonist Antonio Parker, and special guest saxophonist Marcus Strickland. White is most known for his virtuosic ability on the alto saxophone and his extensive published transcriptions of John Coltrane’s solos. He later founded Andrew’s Musical Enterprises Incorporated record label and publishing house. Over a 49-year period, White released over 40 of his own original works on the label, many of them with Kevin Toney, Keith Killgo, and Steve Novosel as his rhythm section. Despite his passing in See JAZZ NOTES on page 17
