MMF Charlie Parker’s Birthday

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Charles Parker, Jr.

Charlie Parker began playing saxophone at age 11; he entered Lincoln High School in 1933, and later spent years at the Musicians Union Local #627 jamming and working with such giants as Jay McShann, Count Basie, Big Joe Turner and Mary Lou Williams. Charlie Parker’s name has become synonymous with the art form itself and “Bird” has come to mean “Jazz.”

ORIGIN OF THE GRAVESITE TRIBUTE

The “21-Sax Salute” was initially started by the late Edward B. “Eddie” Baker, President of the Charlie Parker Memorial Foundation and features a collective performance that usually always brings out many of the top saxophone artists based in the Kansas City area. However, the event is not exclusive to saxophonists. All instrumentalists, musician ability levels and the general public are invited to attend and participate in this tribute event.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE

After Mr. Baker passed away, the “21-Sax Salute” event was lost until 2005, when the  ”grave site tribute” performance was a part of a BBC documentary filming at the Parker Gravesite. While the BBC producer and his film crew were in Kansas City, they took considerable time visiting with Chuck Haddix, the late Jay McShann, and interviewing others who knew and/or played with Parker.
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The director and crew also visited and filmed at the recently discovered home where Bird lived. Along with visiting and filming within the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District of Kansas City at the historic Mutual Musicians Foundation and the American Jazz Museum. In 2007, The Wall Street Journal ran a story in August about Charlie Parker and Kansas City jazz. The writer mentions the grave site event and calls it a 21-sax salute.

2007 CHARLIE PARKER TRIBUTE | MUSICIANS - Horace Washington, David Basse, Stanton Kessler, Dan Jaffe, Bobby Watson, Kevin Greg, Loren Pickford, Chris Burnett, Alaadeen, and Mike Corrigan (yes, bagpipes!). Photo by Fanny Dunfee.

THE TRIBUTE JAMS ON

Today, the event is no longer called the “21-Sax Salute”, and is typically held annually on a weekend close to Bird’s birthday (August 29th). Dean Hampton has been carrying on coordinating the logisitics involved with activities at the grave site of Charlie Parker.  The late Ahmed Alaadeen was also instrumental in the musical conduct of the event since it was re-established in 2005, serving as the musical director.

The celebration continues at the Mutual Musicians Foundation building where an open jam session, serving of chicken (yard bird) and birthday cake are part of the festivities …

AMAZON.COM | Top CDs and MP3 Downloads by Charlie Parker

HOW TO GET THERE

The Charlie “Bird” Parker Gravesite is located in Blue Summit, Missouri – just outside Kansas City, Missouri. Located at 8604 East Truman Road in Jackson County. Musicians are asked to report at 12:30 pm.
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Driving Directions to Lincoln Cemetery:
Lincoln Cemetery is north of the intersection of Hwy #40 and Blue Ridge Cutoff (on Blue Ridge Rd). Travel north on Blue Ridge Cutoff from that intersection, staying left at any forks in the road (which will put you on Blue Ridge Road). When passing a cemetery on the right (east side of the road), begin looking for one, within a mile or so, on the left (west) side of the road. It will clearly state Lincoln Cemetery and mention that it is Charlie Parker’s final resting place.
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• MMF PROGRAMS & EVENTS > MMF Charlie Parker’s Birthday