Charlie Parker Festival

[Lois Gilbert]

CITY PARKS FOUNDATION PRESENTS
FREE 'CHARLIE PARKER JAZZ FESTIVAL'



ARTISTS INCLUDE JIMMY HEATH, DONALD HARRISON, KENNY GARRETT, TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON AND OTHERS



JIMMY HEATH TO DEBUT HIS COMPOSITION
³BIRD IS THE WORD² COMMISSIONED BY CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

Saturday, August 21 * Marcus Garvey Park
Sunday, August 22 * Tompkins Square Park



New York, NY -- City Parks Foundation is proud to announce the 2004 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 21 at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, and Sunday, August 22 at Tompkins Square Park in the East Village. The 12th annual festival will feature a stellar lineup that includes the legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath, who will be debuting his composition, ³Bird is the Word,² commissioned by City Parks Foundation. Other artists appearing include vocalist Vanessa Rubin, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett, pianist/vocalist Rachel Z and many others. Both days of performances are free to the public.

In the spring of 2003, City Parks Foundation announced that it would take over the festival when the original organizers announced they could no longer sustain it. The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival is presented under the auspices of City Parks Foundation for the second consecutive year.

The influence and inspiration that Charlie Parker bestowed upon his fellow musicians and listeners was so profound that its effects are still being felt strongly today. His rhythmic and harmonic inventions, partly responsible for the creation of bebop, can be heard coming from the instruments of musicians around the world. The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival annually assembles some of the finest musicians in the world who reflect Parker¹s musical individuality and genius, to promote appreciation for this highly influential and world-renowned artist. The two days of concerts take place in the neighborhoods where Parker himself lived and worked.



12TH ANNUAL CHARLIE PARKER JAZZ FESTIVAL LINEUP

Saturday, August 21, 3pm, Marcus Garvey Park
Jimmy Heath
Donald Harrison
Vanessa Rubin
Rachel Z


Sunday, August 22, 3pm, Tompkins Square Park
Jimmy Heath
Frank Morgan
Kenny Garrett
Terri Lyne Carrington