Birdland History:
Ever since most of Chicago’s top musicians moved to New York in the mid-to-late 1920s, New York City has been the Jazz Mecca. Nearly every major jazz style of the past seventy years has been initiated in the Big Apple.
It was Charlie Parker, familiarly known to his fans and fellow musicians as “Bird,” a contraction of Yardbird, his formal nickname, who was the dynamic creative personality and genius of the alto saxophone who served as the inspiration for Birdland.
When the original Birdland opened sixty years ago in December, 1949, Charlie Parker was the headliner and the club was located on Broadway, a block west of the 52nd Street scene, which was a hotbed of jazz in the 1930s and 40s.
Miraculously, just as the scene on 52nd Street caved in, Birdland was born and quickly came to prominence. For the next fifteen years, the club’s survival formula was built upon memorable double and triple bills, commencing at 9 p.m. and sometimes lasting ’til dawn.
In addition to Bird, many jazz legends were regulars at the club. Count Basie and his smokin’ big band made Birdland their New York headquarters, eventually recording George Shearing’s “Lullaby of Birdland” live at the club. John Coltrane’s classic Quartet regularly appeared at the club in the early 1960s, recording “Live at Birdland.” And the famous DJ, Symphony Sid Torin made a name for himself broadcasting live from the club to radio listeners up and down the eastern seaboard.
Emmet Cohen Trio Plus Guests 10 Shows Through Saturday September 9 +Livestream 9/7 @ 7pm (veeps.com/birdland) Emmet Cohen (piano), Phillip Norris (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums 9/6-8), Joe Saylor (drums 9/9), Ekep Nkwelle (vocals 9/6), Houston…
Read More »Join Birdland on The Jazz Cruise '24 Birdland and The Jazz Cruise have always had a close relationship through both its fans and artists. Many patrons of Birdland sail on the cruise every year and countless top musicians perform regularly on…
Read More »Please visit the new and improved birdlandjazz.com There are still a few wrinkles to work out but we hope to provide a better and faster ticket-purchase and Birdland information experience. *There is still time to get tickets for this weekend,…
Read More »How lovely when those May flowers bloom and the world around you comes back to life; birds are chirping and Birdland is equally swinging with excitement! As the sun returned to us this past month we have had the pleasure of also welcoming back some…
Read More »Upcoming Events Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet Thursday, May 18, 2023 7:00 PM Birdland Jazz Club Richard Cortez and Tyler Henderson: Sondheim Explored in the Theater Thursday, May 18, 2023 8:30 PM Birdland Theater Gil Gutierrez…
Read More »“Once I could play what I heard inside me, that's when I was born.” -- Charlie Parker Welcome to the first edition of our new monthly e-newsletter from Birdland! Here you will find exciting things on the horizon, special interviews…
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