Charlie Parker Jazz Festival Coming to Harlem, East Village This Weekend

EAST VILLAGE, MANHATTAN—The free, three-day 2016 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival comes to Manhattan this weekend, an homage to the legendary jazz saxophonist who actually lived in the East Village from 1950-54 (h/t EVGrieve). The festival is put on by the City Parks Foundation. Jazz performers will perform tributes to Parker as well as their own material Friday and Saturday at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem and on Sunday at Tompkins Square Park in the East Village.

Parker was a highly influential musician known as "Bird," and even though it's been almost sixty years since he died in 1955, he is still "universally celebrated for single-handedly inventing bebop and bringing jazz into the modern era," the City Parks Foundation website says. All the concerts are free, so if the weather permits, grab a blanket and keep your ears open for some funky jazz.

Full Schedule

Friday, August 26

Jason Lindner: Breeding Ground

Antoinette Montague

DJ Greg Caz

Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem

6:30PM – 9PM

Saturday, August 27

Randy Weston African Rhythms Sextet

Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles

The Artistry of Jazzmeia Horn

Charles Turner III

Master Class: Samuel Coleman

Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem

3PM – 7PM (2PM Master Class)

Sunday, August 28

DeJohnette - Holland - Moran

Allan Harris

Donny McCaslin Group

Grace Kelly

Tompkins Square Park, East Village

3PM – 7PM

Image via Shutterstock