Alto saxophonist Charlie Parker forever altered the trajectory of jazz.
“There isn’t a note that’s played today in jazz that doesn’t in some way tie back to the influence of Charlie Parker,” says B.J. Jansen, vice president of KC Jazz Alive.
Appreciated and remembered throughout the world, Parker—often referred to as “Bird”—goes down in history as not only one of the most significant jazz musicians but also one of the most famous Kansas Citians. In honor of the bebop saxophonist’s 104th birthday on Aug. 29, the city will be celebrating his legacy throughout the month.
Kadesh Flow and Lucy and Bram Wijnands
Each year, KC Jazz Alive presents the event series Spotlight: Charlie Parker. Now in its 11th year, this year’s programming includes a well-rounded cast of musicians.
“This month is a huge opportunity for Kansas City to celebrate Parker—somebody who’s known on the world stage but may or may not be known in Kansas City,” Jansen says. “But we also want to spotlight what a great music scene we have in Kansas City.”
Father-daughter duo Bram and Lucy Wijnands are always a thrill to watch. They collaborate in a very special way that only a biological bond can provide. Lucy, who resides in Brooklyn, and Bram, a Kansas City-based pianist, often play classic, swinging standards.
Kadesh Flow, on the other hand, represents a more contemporary style, melding hip-hop and jazz. The artist is a clever improviser, whether he’s spitting bars or blowing changes on trombone.
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GO: Aug. 15, 5 pm. KC Bier Co. (310 W. 79th St., KCMO). No cover.
KC Jazz Alive’s Spotlight: Charlie Parker 2024
For the final event of this year’s Spotlight: Charlie Parker series, KC Jazz Alive is partnering up with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra as their featured artist. The ensemble is set to perform Parker’s bebop standards—including “Anthropology” and “Now’s the Time”—as well as other tunes pertinent to his career. Many of the big band arrangements will be tailor-made for the occasion.
The evening will be emceed by historian and radio host Chuck Haddix. The author of Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker, Haddix will provide context on the musical selections and share stories about Bird for a captivating and informative experience.
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GO: Aug. 24, 7 pm. Folly Theater (300 W. 12th St., KCMO). Tickets range from $20-$68 and are available at follytheater.org.
Bird Salute
The American Jazz Museum is teaming up with KC Jazz Alive to honor Parker bright and early on his birthday at the Bird Lives statue. The salute will feature another one of Kansas City’s internationally renowned alto saxophonists, Bobby Watson. The former Jazz Messenger is a living legend, and a chance to see him perform locally—and for free—is a rare treat.
Afterward, the museum has a full day of programming scheduled, including a jazz storytelling program for children, a listening session of Parker’s lost Kansas City recordings led by Haddix and a free concert in the evening. More details are available at
americanjazzmuseum.org.
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GO: Aug. 29, 8 am, Bird Lives statue (located at the southeast corner of 17th Terrace and the Paseo). Free.
Behind the Nickname
Lots of tales claim to explain the origin of Charlie Parker’s nickname, Yardbird—a nickname frequently shortened to Bird. As historian Chuck Haddix explains in his biography on Parker, the saxophonist acquired the title in the early days of his career, before he took flight in NYC.
At the time, Parker regularly played in pianist Jay McShann’s orchestra. While the big band was en route to the college town of Lincoln, Nebraska, to play for fraternities and sororities, a chicken ran out on the highway right in front of their car. Parker urged the driver to pull over, collected the ill-fated “yardbird” and brought it with him. When the band arrived at their host’s house for the evening, the resourceful saxophonist asked if the host could prepare it for dinner. To his satisfaction, she did. His bandmates jeered, and the nickname stuck.
