JAM Magazine: February/March 1999 Issue: Hampton's Hot Licks

by Dean Hampton

Bird's Return to The Vine
Plans are now being made for the week of March 22-28 to be a grand celebration at 18th & Vine. And the honored guest is to be Charlie "Bird" Parker. While this is not an 18th & Vine Gala event like the one held in September, it will be a crucial milestone in the history of Kansas City jazz. And perhaps the final flight for 'Bird.

When Charlie Parker died in 1955, The Kansas City Star only carried a small article about his death. The Star even misspelled his name. Parker's gravestones have since been stolen at least twice, and the current stone, supplied by the now-defunct Kansas City Jazz Commission, proved to be an embarrassment to the local jazz community. It displays an engraved tenor saxophone instead of the expected alto.

Since 1955, Kansas City's treatment of Charlie Parker has been a humiliating guide book on how not to honor someone who is considered by many to be a favorite son. So, the events planned for late March represent an opportunity -- and a challenge -- for Kansas City to offer the greatest jazz saxophonist of all time a worldclass, dignified celebration. The memory of Charlie Parker deserves nothing less.

The new Charlie Parker sculpture/tomb by Robert Graham is to be unveiled and dedicated on Saturday, March 27. It will stand approximately 17 feet tall and will be located at the corner of 17th and The Paseo. At the core of "Charlie Parker Week" -- and by far the most controversial aspect of the event -- is the planned exhumation and relocation of Parker's remains (and those of his mother, Addie) from Lincoln Cemetery to 17th and The Paseo. There they will be enshrined within the new monument in the park-like setting to be known as Charlie "Bird" Parker Plaza. The public will not see Graham's design before the unveiling on the 27th, but based on his credentials, along with his love of both jazz and Charlie Parker, I expect Graham's sculpture to be a work of art that will bring pride to our city. It will surely inspire many a jazz pilgrimage to the Vine.

This event and the plans that continue to evolve as we go to press have not been without snags. In our last issue, we presented positions both for and against moving 'Bird's remains, a dialogue that was picked up by the Los Angeles Times, giving the issue additional national exposure. Other publications such as the New York Times, the Boston Globe and the Chicago Tribune have also contributed to the discussion (and debate) about the move. More coverage is expected in a future issue of Down Beat and on the Jazz Central Station website at www.jazzcentralstation.com.

All press so far has been before the fact. And it has centered not on the artistic memorial landmark (that, thankfully, will not even include a saxophone), but on whether or not moving 'Bird and his mother is the right thing to do. In the end, that will be a matter for the Parker family to decide. But as far as the event itself, the whole jazz world will be watching to see if Kansas City can finally come to bat for 'Bird. The stakes will be very high.

In the meantime, look for additional details about the week's activities as well as any new developments about this major jazz event on our web site (www.jazzkc.org) and in the local papers. And plan to be on the Vine for the unveiling on March 27. You will surely have an opportunity to meet the press.

Incidentally, the events for the week of March 22-28 are being planned by the City of Kansas City, and the Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with the 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District. The Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors will supply volunteer support for events to be announced at a later date.

A New Jazz Education Initiative
JazzEd, a newly formed jazz organization and 501(c)3 non-profit group, is a dream come true. It draws its breath, focus and purpose from existing organizations that are dedicated to making the art of jazz music a celebration of American culture through historic preservation, live performance and educational experiences for students of all ages. JazzEd is a collaborative effort by the following organizations: Arts for Smarts, Alaadeen Enterprises, Inc., Down Beat Magazine, the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, Kansas City Jazz International, the American Jazz Museum (the new name for the Jazz Museum at 18th & Vine), and the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

The inaugural educational initiative program for JazzEd is to send the Paseo Academy's Jazz Ensemble to perform at the Smithsonian Institute's Duke Ellington Centennial Celebration, April 28 through May 2 in Washington D.C. (see "News & Notes"). Kansas City will be well represented by this group of jazz representatives, but fund-raising for this effort is critical. For more information, please contact Ms. Cassandra Smith, Public Relations Specialist, 18th & Vine Authority, 1616 E. 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108 or call 474-VINE (8463), extension 205.

A Quick Look at Summer Jazz
Even though it's only February, we are starting to get requests from visitors and vacation planners for dates for the major summer jazz events. Here is a brief heads up.

Jazz Lovers Pub Crawl(sm): Thursday, June 24
Kansas City International Jazz Festival (Crown Center): Friday-Sunday, June 25-27
Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival: Friday-Sunday, July 16-18

Look for additional information about the coming summer of jazz in future issues of JAM, including our special "Summer Jazz Preview" section in June.

RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 1999 MAIN INDEX

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Dean Hampton Bird's Return to The Vine Plans are now being made for the week of March 22-28 to be a grand celebration at 18th & Vine. And the honored guest is to be Charlie "Bird" Parker. While this is not an 18th & Vine Gala event like the one held in September, it will be a crucial milestone in the history of Kansas City jazz. And perhaps the final flight for 'Bird. When Charlie Parker died in 1955, The Kansas City Star only carried a small article about his death. The Star even misspelled his name. Parker's gravestones have since been stolen at least twice, and the current stone, supplied by the now-defunct Kansas City Jazz Commission, proved to be an embarrassment to the local jazz community. It displays an engraved tenor saxophone instead of the expected alto. Since 1955, Kansas City's treatment of Charlie Parker has been a humiliating guide book on how not to honor someone who is considered by many to be a favorite son. So, the events planned for late March represent an opportunity -- and a challenge -- for Kansas City to offer the greatest jazz saxophonist of all time a worldclass, dignified celebration. The memory of Charlie Parker deserves nothing less. The new Charlie Parker sculpture/tomb by Robert Graham is to be unveiled and dedicated on Saturday, March 27. It will stand approximately 17 feet tall and will be located at the corner of 17th and The Paseo. At the core of "Charlie Parker Week" -- and by far the most controversial aspect of the event -- is the planned exhumation and relocation of Parker's remains (and those of his mother, Addie) from Lincoln Cemetery to 17th and The Paseo. There they will be enshrined within the new monument in the park-like setting to be known as Charlie "Bird" Parker Plaza. The public will not see Graham's design before the unveiling on the 27th, but based on his credentials, along with his love of both jazz and Charlie Parker, I expect Graham's sculpture to be a work of art that will bring pride to our city. It will surely inspire many a jazz pilgrimage to the Vine. This event and the plans that continue to evolve as we go to press have not been without snags. In our last issue, we presented positions both for and against moving 'Bird's remains, a dialogue that was picked up by the Los Angeles Times, giving the issue additional national exposure. Other publications such as the New York Times, the Boston Globe and the Chicago Tribune have also contributed to the discussion (and debate) about the move. More coverage is expected in a future issue of Down Beat and on the Jazz Central Station website at www.jazzcentralstation.com. All press so far has been before the fact. And it has centered not on the artistic memorial landmark (that, thankfully, will not even include a saxophone), but on whether or not moving 'Bird and his mother is the right thing to do. In the end, that will be a matter for the Parker family to decide. But as far as the event itself, the whole jazz world will be watching to see if Kansas City can finally come to bat for 'Bird. The stakes will be very high. In the meantime, look for additional details about the week's activities as well as any new developments about this major jazz event on our web site (www.jazzkc.org) and in the local papers. And plan to be on the Vine for the unveiling on March 27. You will surely have an opportunity to meet the press. Incidentally, the events for the week of March 22-28 are being planned by the City of Kansas City, and the Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with the 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District. The Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors will supply volunteer support for events to be announced at a later date. A New Jazz Education Initiative JazzEd, a newly formed jazz organization and 501(c)3 non-profit group, is a dream come true. It draws its breath, focus and purpose from existing organizations that are dedicated to making the art of jazz music a celebration of American culture through historic preservation, live performance and educational experiences for students of all ages. JazzEd is a collaborative effort by the following organizations: Arts for Smarts, Alaadeen Enterprises, Inc., Down Beat Magazine, the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, Kansas City Jazz International, the American Jazz Museum (the new name for the Jazz Museum at 18th & Vine), and the Mutual Musicians Foundation. The inaugural educational initiative program for JazzEd is to send the Paseo Academy's Jazz Ensemble to perform at the Smithsonian Institute's Duke Ellington Centennial Celebration, April 28 through May 2 in Washington D.C. (see "News & Notes"). Kansas City will be well represented by this group of jazz representatives, but fund-raising for this effort is critical. For more information, please contact Ms. Cassandra Smith, Public Relations Specialist, 18th & Vine Authority, 1616 E. 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108 or call 474-VINE (8463), extension 205. A Quick Look at Summer Jazz Even though it's only February, we are starting to get requests from visitors and vacation planners for dates for the major summer jazz events. Here is a brief heads up. Jazz Lovers Pub Crawl(sm): Thursday, June 24 Kansas City International Jazz Festival (Crown Center): Friday-Sunday, June 25-27 Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival: Friday-Sunday, July 16-18 Look for additional information about the coming summer of jazz in future issues of JAM, including our special "Summer Jazz Preview" section in June. RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 1999 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------- © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.