Each year we assemble some of the finest musicians in the world who reflect Charlie Parker’s musical individuality and genius, to promote appreciation for this highly influential and world-renowned artist. This vibrant – and free – celebration of jazz in New York brings together stories, veteran players and the next generation of jazz artists.
The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, our city’s annual salute to the eponymous late saxophonist, returned in its 30th year for a three-day celebration of live jazz in the neighborhoods near where Parker worked and lived, including Harlem’s historic Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park in the East Village. Additional jazz events were also held across the city to celebrate the festival.
Running August 26 to August 28, the 30th anniversary brought together storied, veteran players and the next generation of jazz artists including jazz singer and her big band Jazzmeia and Her Noble Force, Brooklyn-born tap dancer Calvin Booker On Tap & Friends; American trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet, NEA Jazz Master bassist Buster Williams featuring his quartet Something More and others; and avant-garde jazz legendary saxophonist Archie Shepp with genre-bending pianist Jason Moran, multi-award winning saxophonist Melissa Aldana, world renowned trumpeter Bria Skonberg, and leader in the field and mentor guitarist Pasquale Grasso with his nostalgic sound.
2022 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival artwork by Alan Nahigian
To celebrate Charlie Parker’s 100th birthday in 2020, we presented an all-day digital Charlie Parker Jazz Festival as a part of our SummerStage Anywhere digital series during the annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival weekend.
This special program featured a celebration of Charlie Parker’s life and the festival with a visit to Tompkins Square Park; a conversation with Charlie Parker Jazz Festival founder Sam Turvey, jazz performers Jason Moran and Jaleel Shaw and many more; plus archived Charlie Parker Jazz Festival performances.
Visit our YouTube to watch on demand highlights from our digital celebration.
Programming includes:
Generous private support for the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival is provided by The Shubert Organization, J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and the NYU Community Fund. Generous support for the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival is provided in part, by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Public support is also provided from the NYC Council through Council Member Carlina Rivera. Additional support is generously provided by our dedicated festival audience and SummerStage Members.
This year’s engagement of Buster Williams & Something More is made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Enjoy express entry and VIP seating at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival as a SummerStage member. At SummerStage, we believe the arts are for everyone and your membership helps make this possible.
