The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook, has just lately acquired a set of greater than 50 memorabilia objects from jazz saxophonist legend Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker, that features grasp acetates from a few of his most essential recording classes; a customized instrument case; his union card; quite a few notes, letters and correspondence; and his Birdland contracts.
An exhibit highlighting Parker and the newly acquired memorabilia will open in February, together with quite a few occasions and concert events centered on Parker’s music. The live performance collection will culminate in a number of performances of “Charlie Parker with Strings,” one among his most well-known recordings.
Some of the correspondence paperwork his problem with the union as he usually had his union card revoked for drug offenses. The letters, from him, his brokers, promoters, and mates, present Parker’s battle to remain clear and work. Parker struggled with a heroin habit and died on the age of 34.
The objects have been bought at a Christie’s of London public sale which showcased an unlimited assortment of music memorabilia belonging to the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts. Watts, who had been a beloved member of the Stones since 1963, handed away in August 2021.
Watts was an enormous jazz fan, with a particular love of Charlie Parker.
“I heard Charlie Parker and that was it. It was all over,” Watts had mentioned.
According to David Green, a childhood good friend of Watts, his “collection of jazz memorabilia, which he started in his teens, and built up during his years with the Stones is truly astonishing; it reflects his enduring love of the music and the musicians who made it.”
Tom Manuel, founder and president of The Jazz Loft, mentioned he was decided to carry the gathering to The Jazz Loft as a result of Parker had deep roots in New York. Birdland, the well-known jazz membership situated on 52nd Street in New York City, was named for Parker, who had a residency there for 4 years.
“Charlie Parker holds a place on that shelf that few get to join; Jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Ella are all up there. Parker is there because he, along with his bebop colleagues, gave us an entirely new way of speaking the language of Jazz,” Manuel mentioned.
“Parker’s short-lived life meant that he left us little in terms of personal items related to his career. The sale of the Charlie Watts collection which took him decades to assemble literally was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I just knew that The Jazz Loft needed to mobilize all our resources and support to bring Bird home. I’m still in awe that we are now the only Jazz museum in the world with such an extensive collection of items relating to the life and career of one of the most important figures in Jazz — Charlie Parker. It’s beyond description,” added Manuel.
Through a fundraising marketing campaign referred to as Operation Bring Bird Home, Manuel raised over $150,000 from over 30 donors to buy the Parker assortment. Lead donors have been Dawn and Dan Oliveri and Cynthia and David Lippe, with further help from the Jazz Loft’s Board of Directors.
“The acquisition of this Charlie Parker collection will be a game changer for The Jazz Loft,” mentioned Cynthia Lippe. “We have amazing collections of artists who are significant to the history of jazz and well-known among jazz aficionados, but we haven’t had such a household name in jazz until now. Everyone knows ‘Bird,’ and we now have one of the largest collections of Charlie Parker memorabilia anywhere!”
Glenn Mitchell, senior specialist at antiquarian bookseller Peter Harrington of London, mentioned, “I count myself as extraordinarily fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Charlie Watts in building his jazz collection. He was a passionate and informed collector in a range of areas, but deep down it was jazz that was closest to his heart, and in his heart, he held Bird dearest of all.”
“Charlie didn’t buy a single thing that didn’t mean something to him, and his jazz collection was carefully composed of material that takes you there, puts you in the room, brings alive not just the sounds but the whole scintillating variegated culture of jazz. He’d often say to me, ‘when I’m gone, who’s going to care about all this stuff?’, well evidently quite few people! It was a great pleasure to meet Dr. Thomas Manuel ‘backstage’ at the Christie’s sale and to be able to share the stories behind some of Charlie’s trophy pieces; Charlie would have been delighted to see that many of these have now found a home in a place where jazz truly still lives, and the story is being told for generations to come.”
The Charlie Parker assortment will probably be exhibited at The Jazz Loft in February. The kickoff will embrace a reception for donors on Feb. 8 at 6:30p.m. and two performances of “Charlie Parker with Strings” that includes Chris Donohue and Dayna Sean Stephens on April 4 and 6 at 7 p.m. and a 3rd efficiency that includes Chris Donohue on alto saxophonist at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts on April 5 at 7 p.m. In addition, the exhibit will embrace a screening of Clint Eastwood’s award-winning movie Bird on Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. For extra info, go to www.thejazzloft.org or name 631-751-1895.
