2023 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival

The City Parks Foundation kicked off its 31st annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. The three day celebration of the life of the late saxophonist Charlie Parker took place in the neighborhood near where Charlie Parker worked and lived. Friday August 25th uptown Harlem at Marcus Garvey Park featured Orrin Evans, Lisa Fischer, and Captain Black Big Band. Artists also included in the Friday lineup were T.K. Blue and DJ Sets by uptown Vinyl Supreme.

The musical celebration continued on Saturday August 26th at Marcus Garvey Park. Akua Allrich and the Tribe was a wonderful start to a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Detroit native bassist Endea Owens graced the stage with her powerhouse band. Other Artist included Nduduzo Makhathini and his trio ending the evening with The Cookers which featured the Allstar cast of Billy Harper, Cecil McBee, George Cables, Eddie Henderson, Billy Hart, David Weiss and Donald Harrison.

On Sunday August 27th the festival moved over downtown to the place where is all began. Tompkins Square Park located just blocks away from Charlie Parker's home in the East Village in New York City. Sundays event featured Vincent Herring Septet, Chelsea Baratz with Andromeda Turre, vocalist Michael Mayo ending with alto saxophonist Charles McPherson, featuring Terell Stafford on trumpet, David Wong on bass and Billy Drummond on drums.

These series of photos capture the sights and sounds of one of the most premier jazz festivals in New York City. It will be interesting to see how Central Park Summer Stage will top this years festival line up in 2024.

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