Join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Kansas City native, Charlie “Yardbird” Parker!
View events taking place in 2021 all the way back to 2017! Simply select the dates you wish to view below.

Due to COVID rise, American Jazz Museum has made the difficult decision to cancel Sunday’s (8/29) in-person events. They will be pivoting to a virtual event/video to be released next month. Updates to be announced at https://americanjazzmuseum.org/
Tune into the American Jazz Museum’s Facebook at 5pm on Sunday 8/29 for a livestreamed horn salute and tribute to Charlie Parker, led by Bobby Watson! https://www.facebook.com/ajazzmuseumKC
A message from AJM…
“Due to the rising concern surrounding the COVID-19 Delta Variant, the American Jazz Museum has determined it is in the best interest of our staff, community, and guests to cancel this Sunday’s In the Yard parade and celebration.
We know how excited so many were to experience ‘Bird at 100,’ a Charlie Parker centennial tribute featuring saxophonists Vincent Herring, Bobby Watson, and Gary Bartz. So, we look forward to broadcasting In the Yard virtually featuring ‘Bird at 100’ next month (air date TBA).
To honor Bird’s legacy, we will pivot to all virtual programming, with a livestreamed broadcast from the Charlie Parker bust on his birthday, this Sunday August 29th at 5:00PM. Please join us virtually on Facebook to watch a very special horn salute and tribute led by Bobby Watson.
This was a difficult decision to make, as we were looking forward to welcoming visitors to our yard to honor the end of Charlie Parker’s centennial year and 101st birthday. His legacy deserves a community-wide celebration, but we have to prioritize the health and safety of all who visit our museum.
We are so close to reaching our fundraising goal for In the Yard, and you can still honor Charlie Parker’s centennial year with a contribution to the campaign by texting ‘BIRDLIVES’ to 44-321. If you purchased VIP or party pass tickets, or made a donation through Eventbrite to the In the Yard fundraiser, Lisa Alpert will be reaching out to you shortly regarding your contribution and refunds. You may also contact her directly at lalpert@kcjazz.org.
Thank you for your understanding as we navigate these circumstances. We look forward to welcoming large gatherings back to the museum as soon as we are able.”

Live Jazz KC is excited announce a jazz series curated by renowned saxophonist & composer, David Valdez in at the historic Warwick Theatre (3927 Main St., Kansas City, MO. 64111). In an effort to continue to showcase the amazing talent in Kansas City as well as continue to foster the growth and development of the next wave of jazz musicians, Live Jazz KC in partnership with The Warwick Theatre and University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory’s Jazz Faculty we have curated a series of live performances starting August 22nd, 2021. We look forward to many great performances as well as continuing the rich tradition of live jazz in Kansas City.
August 29th – LiveJazzKC Presents: Bird Jam 2021 Celebrating Charlie Parker hosted by Stephen Martin. An open jam session dedicated to the music of Charlie Parker on what would be his 101st Birthday! (6:30-10pm). Admission is free for musicians participating in the jam session and there is a suggested donation of $5 for all others. Find more Spotlight: Charlie Parker events at spotlightcharlieparker.org

About this event
The Black Box Jazz Series (formerly “KC Drive-in Concerts”) presents The Kansas City Jazz orchestra live in concert!
General Admission $20 – please bring your own lawn chair if you’d like to sit.
Reserved tables (up to 4 people) – $30
The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra is an internationally acclaimed, premier performing arts icon providing jazz entertainment and education.

Tickets are available online and by calling the box office at 913-469-4445.
Featuring Greg Carroll and the Midnight Blue Jazz Quintet with special guest, Kansas City’s Vine Street Rumble Jazz Orchestra, directed by Kent Rausch. Hosted by award-winning KMBC 9 News Chief Meteorologist Bryan Busby.
Carroll leads the Midnight Blue Jazz Quintet on vibraphone and is the former CEO of the American Jazz Museum. He also is an award-winning clinician, guest artist and scholar and was named one of the 100 most Influential African-Americans in Kansas City. Carroll can be heard on 22 recording projects. His newest album, “Greg Carroll & Michael Pagan 2 + 2” was released in 2019 on the Arc label. Each Midnight Blue Jazz member is an award-winning, world-class musician with a strong performance and teaching résumé.
Kansas City’s Vine Street Rumble Jazz Orchestra is a 14-piece big band that honors the legacy of Kansas City Jazz during its “golden era” in the ’30s and ’40s. Band members are some of Kansas City’s top musicians, who love to perform the music of Count Basie, Jay McShann, Andy Kirk and the 12 Clouds of Joy, Harlan Leonard and His Rockets, Mary Lou Williams, Joe Turner and Pete Johnson, among others. The band delights in taking audiences “Back in time to 18th and Vine!” with toe-tapping, hand-clapping fun.
Busby is a natural showman who has become one of Kansas City’s favorite television personalities. He also is the principal timpanist for the Kansas City Civic Orchestra and has performed with the Independence Messiah Festival Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Percussion Quartet and the Moody Blues, and was a principal guest conductor of the Kansas City Youth Symphony.
Produced by Midnight Blue Jazz, LLC
Exhibit sponsored by Kansas City Jazz Alive
Supported in part by Peter Goulet.
https://www.jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center/events/2021-2022/winterlude-kc-all-that-jazz.html
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12:00 am
Saxophone Supreme: The Life & Music of Charlie Parker Exhibition
@ American Jazz Museum (& Virtual)
Saxophone Supreme: The Life & Music of Charlie Parker Exhibition
@ American Jazz Museum (& Virtual)
Aug 29 @ 12:00 am – Aug 30 @ 12:00 am
![]() View full Virtual exhibit here –> https://library.umkc.edu/exhibits/saxophone A partnership between the American Jazz Museum and UMKC Libraries, the exhibit Saxophone Supreme celebrates the Centennial of Charlie “Bird” Parker, one of the most influential musicians and composers of all[...]
4:00 pm
‘In The Yard’ by American Jazz Museum – CANCELED
‘In The Yard’ by American Jazz Museum – CANCELED
Aug 29 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Due to COVID rise, American Jazz Museum has made the difficult decision to cancel Sunday’s (8/29) in-person events. They will be pivoting to a virtual event/video to be released next month. Updates to be announced[...]
5:00 pm
Livestreamed Broadcast from Charlie Parker Statue
@ American Jazz Museum Facebook
Livestreamed Broadcast from Charlie Parker Statue
@ American Jazz Museum Facebook
Aug 29 @ 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm
Tune into the American Jazz Museum’s Facebook at 5pm on Sunday 8/29 for a livestreamed horn salute and tribute to Charlie Parker, led by Bobby Watson! https://www.facebook.com/ajazzmuseumKC A message from AJM… “Due to the rising[...]
6:30 pm
LiveJazzKC presents Bird Jam 2021 Celebrating Charlie Parker
@ MET @ Warwick Theatre
LiveJazzKC presents Bird Jam 2021 Celebrating Charlie Parker
@ MET @ Warwick Theatre
Aug 29 @ 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
![]() Live Jazz KC is excited announce a jazz series curated by renowned saxophonist & composer, David Valdez in at the historic Warwick Theatre (3927 Main St., Kansas City, MO. 64111). In an effort to continue[...]
7:00 pm
Kansas City Jazz Orchestra – Alto Madness
@ The Black Box in the West Bottoms
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