Visiting Birdland Jazz Club
Early this January my wife and I decided to take the kids to New York. My son wanted to see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, and with the recent announcement that they would be closing the show soon, we decided to make a long weekend out of it. One of the fun things we did was to have dinner at the Birdland Jazz Club. Birdland is a jazz club located in New York City that has been in operation since 1949, although it has moved locations three times and is now located near Broadway on 44th Street. The club is named after Charlie "Bird" Parker, a prominent jazz saxophonist and one of the founders of bebop. Throughout its history, Birdland has played host to some of the biggest names in jazz, including Parker himself, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk.
I purchased tickets to see the Birdland Big Band. The band is made up of some of the most talented jazz musicians in the world. They perform every Friday night at the club, and their shows are known for their high energy and musicianship. The Birdland Big Band is known for its unique arrangements of classic jazz standards, as well as original compositions written by band members. They also often feature guest soloists, who are given the opportunity to showcase their own talents and add their own spin to the band's performances. One of the highlights for me was when Jason Marshall walked in to cover the bari sax part. I had the pleasure to meet him several years ago at the NAMM convention in Anaheim California. He is an amazing bari player and soloist.
The cool thing about Birdland is that they are an all-ages venue. In addition, our food was excellent and our servers were great. Birdland has many sets each night, and later that night the great Joe Lovano was playing. All though our schedule didn’t allow for us to stay for his sets we did get to meet him! My son and I were standing by the front door, in strolls Joe and his wife. I tapped my son on the shoulder, “That’s Joe, that’s Joe!”. Joe was then very gracious and allowed us to take a photo with him.
I highly recommend that you check out some of the Birdland Big Band’s albums as they are excellent. Birdland and the Birdland Big Band have played a significant role in keeping jazz alive and thriving in New York City. The club's storied history and the band's exceptional musicianship make it a must-visit destination for jazz enthusiasts and music lovers of all ages.