Saxophonist Charlie Yarbird Parker with Strings

This year’s 28th annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in New York City (August 28-29) celebrated the alto saxophonist and composer’s 100th Birthday, born August 29, 1920. The celebration was postponed last year due to COVID-19 pandemic. In honor of Parker’s 101st birthday the festival revisited two of the bebop titan’s best-selling albums Charlie Parker With Strings 1 & 2 (Mercury Records, 1950). These two albums of all standards were produced by Norman Krantz.

Days before the festival in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park, alto saxophonist, composer and 2022 Jazz Master Donald Harrison and music director, founder and violinist Amadi Azikiwe (Harlem Symphony Orchestra, 10 pieces for this project) discussed their collaborative efforts for the “Charlie Parker with Strings” big band performance. The video, A Bird with Strings Conversation: Donald Harrison and Amadi Azikiwe, hosted by Ron Scott at the Jazz Museum in Harlem. Among the topics discussed were: how they met, their classical and jazz music experiences and perspectives, Azikiwe’s introduction to jazz, Harrison’s observations and comments on Parker’s music.