Tag: Charlie Parker

Best Yard Bird 99th Event: 21 Toot Salute in Los Angeles


August 29th is a very famous birthday for various people..One for Michael Jackson so-called King of Pop, but this one is about the King of Be Bop Saxophonists Charlie Parker or, aka, Yard Bird! The Jazz community in Leimert Park was honoring the “Bird” on his 99 birthday.

Parker a 34 year old man died in March 1955, months before his 35th Birthday. Before that happened, Yard Bird or “Charlie’ was known as the absolute truth on jazz saxophone. Most youngsters or vet musicians wanted to play and sound like him..some even went to the pits of hell with major drugs and its abuse to follow the Bird. After saying all that, Robert J. Carmack wrote a play about the man, about the two inner-men other that “Bird,” Most people knew nothing about.. the others were the man as Father, Husband and musical genius!. Carmack’s play was not being performed, but a fictional dramatic scene from the tragic story of Parker through the eyes of a person who only wanted to be loved and to love those as he loved the music.

The amazing evening’s entertainment package consisted of a hand picked group of L.A. experienced musicians and a newcomer that’s trending very positive as a budding master of Jazz. Drummer/percussionist-Don Littleton’s Super Trio :James Leary Bass, Robert “Bobby” Pierce piano, Jazz soloists were Randall Willis Alto, Charles Owens Tenor and jazz sensation Chris Astoquillca on alto. Host/MC: Robert J. Carmack- producer, writer and actor.

The enthusiastic audience were up clapping and yelling from their seats because the musicians were off into another gear, especially young saxophonist Chris Astoquillca. who was let loose in second set and He did not disappoint. The buzz around Leimert Park Village the NEXT day told the true story. Chris made an IMPRESSION on the veteran players and the audience. Carmack is thinking ahead and looking forward to the followup event in November, Thanksgiving weekend…

POCKET JAZZ PRESENTS: CTI RECORDs Tribute ~ California Concert Redux 2! November 2019 music of Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine , Esther Phillips, Hank Crawford,Grover Washington,George Benson and other surprises..follow us on face book ~ Pocket Jazz Presents..#CaliforniaConcertRedux2

Robert J. Carmack has already begun discussions around presenting the entire play in August of 2020. Carmack has planned for a multi-night special event in 2020, on Charlie Parker Birthday next year in both Los Angeles, and San Francisco.. a Play – Night of Poets and Jazz Nu Beat Poets Society and Visual Artists(Painters,Sculptors and Assemblage art.

Producer/ Pocket Jazz Presents with Blues & Jazz singer/entrepreneur, Barbara Morrison outside the Barbara Morrison Theater LA Calif.

COMING SOON New Jazz Legends Series Pocket Jazz Presents! 2019/2020

About the producer: Robert J. Carmack He was first exposed to jazz in the late 1950s, as a kid watching the Steve Allen show. He would play with famous musicians, Robert liked the sound, He did not know the name of it. One day while watching the Dobie Gillis show with Maynard, who was a beatnik, said he would do anything to sit-in with Thelonious Monk playing Bongos.. years later, as young Robert was just starting out in music as a saxophone player, he heard a record by a friend’s big brother, who said “this is Monk’s, well you needn’t.” He made the earlier connection from his childhood, now a teenage player in a band, Carmack was hip and cool with his Tam and sunglasses .. Now all the young girls loved it because, He was different than the other guys.

Carmack went on to play professionally under a undisclosed stage name, for 25+ years, then due to medical issues became a writer of jazz history and avid fan of great players. As a writer / producer or blogger, He has worked, interviewed or promoted such luminaries as, McCoy Tyner, Doug Carn, Azar Lawrence, Bobby Womack, Commodores, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Fortune, Andy Bey, Mandrill/Lowrider band, Acknowledgement, Juini Booth/ LA Fog Band and the Sun Ra Tribute with R J Carmack & Juini Booth. contact: blues2jazz2003@yahoo.com~ @blues2jazzguy , or just follow on this site http://www.hipstersanctuary.com

posted by Kamaad Tauhid @blues2jazzguy

L.A. Jazz Hipsters Celebrate Yard Bird Parker 99th: Appearing August 29 2019


posted by Kamaad Tauhid @blues2jazzguy

Appearing at Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, a select cadre of LA based musicians ,formed a super Trio of veteran bassist, James Leary, Don Littleton Drummer & leader, Robert “Bobby” Pierce piano”

Meet all the Cats and Kits at 7:30PM to celebrate Charlie Parker’s 99th birthday. early Thursday evening of jazz fun and friendly head-cutting jam session immediately following the scripted portion of the evening’s festivities. Producer Robert J. Carmack first thought about celebrating “Bird’s” birthday in 2015 in front of the Leimert Park World Stage, he, and a band of 7 seven saxophonists all got together for Now’s the Time, Parker’s Mood and a bursting jolt of Crazy runs & phrasing some of the Best, including Thursday featured soloist, Randall Willis, and special invited saxophonist Dale Fielder..Now just 4 years later we have put together a rollicking show of some of Bird’s greatest recorded songs. Look for an added bolster sound in Tenor man Charles Owens, Ricky Woodard and young Chris Christopher Astoquillca on alto, the youngest saxophonist under 30, maybe 25.. It all spells FUN for everybody in attendance.See You There Thursday!(photo 2015 – Chuck Koton. Jazz archivist)

Charlie Parker’s 95th Birthday.. Just us Seven just gave him a honorary “21 Toot Salute”, Left to right , Robert J. Carmack, Shondell Johnson Baritone Sax, (unknown alto player ) Azar Lawrence soprano, Randall Willis Alto,unknown soprano player??) Dale Fielder Baritone Sax..
That day’s activities were coordinated globally around the world including New York & Kansas City, with sax man, Bobby Watson and The Charlie Parker Jazz Society.
Next Year , Carmack promises multiple-days activity for Bird’s 100 2020! Play, Poetry and an All-star concert in both LA & SF Bay area.
https://www.blackculturalevents.com/event/celebratin-yard-bird-99-21-toot-salute/

HAPPY 99th BIRTHDAY- THELONIUS SPHERE MONK 1917 ~ 2016


posted by Robert J. Carmack     #@blues2jazzguy

thelonious-monk-sun-glasses-008
Oct.10 1917 to Feb. 17 1982

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

monk-and-charlie-rouse

thelonious_monk_hat_piano_play_show_7859_1920x1080-1024x576
T Monk early 1960s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY 85 TO JAZZ LEGENDARY SAXOPHONIST SONNY ROLLINS !


posted by robert j. carmack  #@blues2jazzguy

SONNY ROLLINS  SEPTEMBER 7 1930

Sonny Rollins MOHAWK
Sonny Rollins in 1959 w Mohawk

Sonny Mohawk 3 Rollins
Prestige Records Golden Sonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins turned 85 years old today . its hard to believe ,not because of his age, but, in spite of his age. He still holds court somewhere in the world on major stages blowing long, multi-note phrases, swinging  violently on the most miniscule of sub-themes set up by his own improvisations. Very few things are more exciting than watching and listening to Sonny Rollins in Beast mode. My first experience seeing and hearing him was as a curious child watching 1950s television, that just happened to have a jazz band playing that night. I saw this really cool looking black man with a shiny horn , sun glasses and a Mohawk. I think it was Steve Allen or Jack Parr’s version of the The Tonight Show.    Sonny Rollins was more than a jazz musician, he was a mentor to other jazz musicians, cultural and fashion icon whose influences went beyond the bandstand as well. He was the first black man I ever saw with a Mohawk (1959)..Quite the dresser on stage when he wanted to, He was the first I ever saw with clean-shaved head(1960s) and diamond-studded Ascot.

My first live Sonny Rollins concert, I was now 21 and living in Los Angeles 1971, he was performing at the museum of modern Art outside.. I watched with such wide-eyed delight as he swung so hard on unbelievable tempos, countered that with such tender,velvety arpeggios like he did on such classics as, I Can’t Get Started or Don’t Blame Me. Fast-forward to late 1990s and I’m now living in Atlanta Georgia watching a much older man with full head of snow-white hair and full beard, with a very nice suit with red “Chuck Taylor” Converse basketball shoes.  This time his band personnel was young guys except for his long-time bassist Bob Cranshaw. The results were still the same…long-winded solos on jazz standards and some west indian folk songs    paying homage to Rollins’ West Indian roots.

Sonny at Newport 2001
Sonny at Newport 2001

This man has appeared in countless numbers of countries on even more super numbers of stages,over (7) seven decades of playing professionally and like a great Rolls Royce classic, even though high milage, He still purrs and runs like new.

Well done sir! Happy Birthday Sonny, keep coming back!

ICONIC JAZZ SAXOPHONIST PHIL WOODS PERFORMS LAST CONCERT


posted by Robert J.Carmack

It was announced recently at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in Pittsburg,Pennsylvania that alto saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Phil Woods  is retiring from performing because of challenging health issues. Woods was on hand to lead a local trio and the Pittsburg Symphony Orchestra in a swinging reprisal of the Charlie Parker With Strings album. 

Phil Woods photos by Nate Guidry
Phil Woods photos by Nate Guidry

Well, it was a historic concert but, before his last number, Mr. Woods, best known to Jazz aficionados as, one of the last surviving Charlie Parker disciples. announcing the present concert would be his last..Ever!

The 83-year-old Mr. Woods, who uses oxygen, jokingly refers to his tank as “my amplifier” later told the packed facility he has emphysema. That being the case, he wanted to go out with a bang.  According to eye witnesses who were on hand to catch his final performance were quoted as saying, “If he was having any trouble breathing it surely didn’t show.”

Phil Woods, a top shelf performer, had a stellar backing unit with him from the Pittsburg area, bassist, Paul Thompson, pianist Alton Merrell, and drummer Tom Wendt.

For full concert review by Pittsburg Post-Gazette click on link below

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music-reviews/2015/09/06/Concert-review-Saxophonist-Phil-Woods-ends-playing-career-on-a-high-note/stories/201509070044

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GERALD WILSON ~ WE MISS YOU SIR! SEPT. 4 1918 – SEPT. 8 2014


posted by robert j carmack  #@blues2jazzguy

Gerald Wilson at piano
Gerald Wilson at Piano moving Dots around

Gerald Wilson's Final Central Ave appearance july 2014
Gerald Wilson’s Final Central Ave appearance july 2014 photo by R. J. Carmack

Gerald Wilson Reaching Out Directing
Gerald Wilson soloing with Buddy Collette Vintage 50s

GerALD Wilson and LA big Band Gerald Wilson reaching out pix

Gerald and Josephina with Michael Dolphin 2012 Carl Randall memorial
Gerald and Josephina with Michael Dolphin 2012 Carl Randall memorial photo by R J Carmack

THE SPIRIT OF CHARLIE PARKER FLOWED AT WORLD STAGE -LOS ANGELES


posted by #@blues2jazzguy

sepia Robert on sax
Robert J. Carmack Producer,poet, journalist, music historian

Saturday, August 29  at the World Stage kicked off a double-header of  fiery jazz events beginning at 3pm where a smattering of jazz musicians assembled and paid homage to the great Charlie Parker on his 95th birthday.       Billed as A 21 SAXOPHONE SALUTE to BIRD.      A modest, but able bodied group of savvy saxophonist gathered at the 25-year-old performance gallery in Leimert Park .The World Stage, co-founded by jazz icon Billy Higgins, and Poet  Kamaau Daaood. Event coordinator and producer Robert J. Carmack was looking for  full 21 saxophone pieces, however due to conflicts and time restraints, some musicians could not make the first year’s event, but, vowed to make it next year. just like at a military event where there are three shots fired as symbol of 21 guns firing, Robert Sax21 sax salute

We had 7 saxophones riffin’ on NOW’s THE TIME melody, followed by a battery of trills, growls, squawks and other improvisational sounds, all in honor of Charles Parker II, bka Yardbird Parker.

There were other cities,groups, even other countries involved as well said Carmack. “my goal was to enlist as many people as I could, all doing the same thing at the same time on East coast at 12 noon, west coast at 3pm. Also shoot it with video or still photography, then submit the finished product to me.  I’m posting that information and images online with a special Facebook page, so all the participants can admire what others did as well.

On hand for the salute was legendary saxophonist Azar Lawrence,along with local legends Dale Fielder and Randall Willis. Invited but had a conflict in schedule, was birthday boy, Bennie Maupin, August 29 1940..(see Bennie Maupin Bashin’ at Blue Whale in Los Angeles (Hipster Sanctuary.Com – Sept.2)

There was also fans of jazz and other instruments that showed up to participate as well,even though they were not saxophones. Drummers, percussionists and even trumpet players showed up to share the moment, which is beautiful. Carmack promises next year a bigger and better program and performances will highlight the Charlie Parker 21 Sax Salute 2016 .

Robert J inside Stage squating 21 sax