Jazz & Poetry: BIRD. Die Charlie Parker-Legende. Daniela Baumeister & Jan Prax Quartett

The evening paints a fascinating picture of the jazz scene in New York in the 1940s and 1950s and of the brilliant saxophonist Charlie “BIRD” Parker, a pioneer of bebop. His life revolved around music, sex, and drugs. It ended tragically and far too soon. Drawing on memories from people who knew him well—label managers, club owners, women, musicians, neighbors, and friends—a “reconstruction” of his extraordinary life has been created.

The Jazz & Poetry program “BIRD” depicts his development, his music, and his eccentricities in short, gripping texts read by Daniella Baumeister (editor at hr2 Kultur). Alternating with the texts, the “Jan Prax Quartet” performs bebop pieces by Charlie Parker and his contemporaries in contemporary arrangements. This program is a tribute to one of jazz’s most significant musicians and to a brilliant, extraordinary individual. His influence on the development of jazz to this day is immeasurable.

Featuring: Daniela Baumeister (narrator), Jan Prax (alto saxophone), Manuel Seng (piano), Florian Werther (bass), and Axel Pape (drums).

In collaboration with the Jazz-Initiative Frankfurt.