Charlie Parker Festival 2018

The City Parks Foundation kicked off its 26th annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival honoring the legendary saxophonist Charlie Parker. Festival highlights included Charles Tolliver's 50th anniversary of ''Paper Man" on Friday August 24th at Marcus Garvey Park. This event honored jazz trumpeter Charles Tolliver's 1968 album, which was hailed for it's cutting edge avant -garde approach. The performance featured performances by renowned jazz musician Gary Bartz , drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Buster Williams.

On Saturday August 25th Monty Alexander and the Harlem Kingston Express took stage at Marcus Garvey Park. Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Catherine Russell and piano wiz Matthew Whitaker also joined in on the celebration. On Sunday August 26th the festival moved downtown to the place where it all began, Tompkins Square Park located blocks away from Charlie Parker's home in the East Village in New York City. Featured artist included pianist Amina Claudine Meyers, Adam O'Farrell and trumpeter Keyon Harrold who is considered by Wynton Marsalis as the future of jazz . There where several tributes throughout the festival honoring the late queen of soul Aretha Franklin. The Charlie Parker jazz festival proved to be a must see for any true jazz lover. Here are just a few photo's I feel capture the spirit of this musical celebration.

Comments