About Bird Calls

The Jazz Foundation of America Celebrates Charlie Parker on December 10 with All-Star Fundraiser “Bird Calls”

The Jazz Foundation of America continue their fundraising efforts on behalf of musicians affected by the pandemic with “Bird Calls,” a livestream event on FANS celebrating the centennial birthday of alto saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker on Thursday, December 10 at 8PM ET with an encore rebroadcast scheduled for 8PM PT.

Musical Director Steve Jordan brought in a group of the world’s leading altoists: Antonio Hart, Vincent Herring, Miguel Zenón, Tom Scott, Jaleel Shaw, and Japan’s Erena Terakubo along with Kenny Barron, George Cables, Craig Haynes (son of Roy Haynes, who himself played behind Parker); trumpeters Jimmy Owens and Keyon Harrold; and guitarist Russell Malone. Nioka Workman’s Firey String Sistas guest on a performance saluting
Parker’s “Bird With Strings” recordings for Verve. New Orleans’ legends, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, also make an appearance to touch on Charlie Parker’s lasting influence on the Crescent City.

Summing up the JFA’s ongoing objectives, Jordan says, “Raising money for the JFA COVID-19 Musicians’ Emergency Fund is still our driving force. With this event we have an opportunity to celebrate a person who is very much at the foundation of this music that we love and who has inspired us for so long. To celebrate Bird is a wonderful thing, and hopefully it will be indicative of a light at the end of the tunnel in the immediate future.”

Support The Jazz Foundation of America while you watch and we’ll see you on FANS.