On the occasion of Charlie Parker's 100th birthday in 2020, “Bird Lives” opens, produces and records a new, orchestral view of his music. Played by one of the best big bands in Europe, arranged by Magnus Lindgren and John Beasley and with a squad of top-class guests, some of whom have received Grammy Awards, such as Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, Miguel Zenon, Tia Fuller and many more.
2020 wasn’t just Beethoven’s year, it was also the centenary of Charlie Parker’s birth. And if it hadn’t been for the pandemic, the world would have seen notices of all kinds of major concerts to celebrate the legacy of Bird (as Charlie Parker was known), one of the giants of jazz; one of the great musical innovators of the 20th century; the co-inventor of bebop; and probably the most important and influential saxophonist in jazz.The "Bird Lives" music on this new album was to have been recorded and premiered by the SWR Big Band a couple of months before Charlie Parker’s 100th anniversary, which was on August 29, 2020. The world premiere was scheduled at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles - which seats 18,000 people - with co-arranger and conductor, John Beasley and his six-time GRAMMY-award nominated MONK’estra Big Ban...
line upSWR Big Band & Strings
co-arranged by Magnus Lindgren & John Beasley
Magnus Lindgren / music director, flute & tenor sax
John Beasley / piano & keys
Guests:
Chris Potter / tenor sax
Joe Lovano / tenor sax
Miguel Zenon / alto sax
Tia Fuller / alto sax
Charles McPherson / alto sax
Camille Bertault / vocal
Pedrito Martinez / percussion
Munyungo Jackson / percussion
Produced by Hans-Peter Zachary,
Magnus Lindgren & John Beasley
Cover art (detail) by Gottfried Mairwöger,
“Palais VI”; Photo (detail) Charlie Parker
© Michael Ochs Archives