The annual festival honoring the legendary jazz great Charlie Parker, was a celebration this past August of not only Parker, but of the legendary pop icon Michael Jackson as well. Both men have the same date of birth, August 29th. That, and the fact the Jackson had so recently passed away, led to tributes being given left and right, from the Village to Harlem. The first night of performances occurred at Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park, and the second night was held in Alphabet City at Tompkin’s Square. Those organizing the festival year after year are group from the City Parks Foundation.
The jazz greats of today composed the line-up celebrating the jazz greats of yesterday. Gary Bartz, saxophonist, played one of Jackson’s songs “I Can’t Help It”, along with the younger hip-hop and jazz vocalist Bilal. Bartz himself is a bit of an experimental player, as is the vocal style of Bilal, however both men performed a relatively straight version of the song, remaining true to the original. Bartz has always been drawn to funk music, and is now playing with the younger generation of the hip-hop artists and the DJ’s of the club scene. He opened the show on Saturday with a group of rappers, improvisation and a straight up rhythm section composed of classical jazz percussionists.
Other incredible performances occurred throughout the weekend, including Frank Wess and his many years of experience on the saxophone, playing along with Scott Robinson, also on sax, some of Parker’s most loved tunes. YoungJosé James crooned with is baritone voice, proving to the audience that his talent reaches further than his young age would suggest. Rain on Sunday delayed the start of the show, and when the band shell at Marcus Garvey Park began to leak, it was necessary to bring out the tents. Following this, the Parks Foundation has already made plans to renovate the band stand, and fans of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival are hoping that it will be completed by next August. Keep this in mind when booking at the 5 star New York hotels, as fans come year after year, and the rooms fill up quickly. This is one of the most anticipated and beloved of the many festivals happening each year in the wonderful city of Manhattan.
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