Birdland

Birdland—
52nd Street & Broadway—
Named for the great jazz musician Charly Parker—
Known as Bird—
Yard Bird—
musicians said his alto sax sounded like a bird humming in flight—
dead at age 34—
heroin – alcohol—
signs posted around New York—
Bird Lives—
Birdland built below street level—
the neon sign reads “Birdland – the jazz corner of the word”—-
a special section for non-drinking teens—
deep stage—
long bar—
small tables and chairs crowd the center of the room—
dim lights—
bird cages hang from the ceiling—
tinkling piano warming the crowd—
tinkling piano stops—
the quintet appears on stage—
Dizzy on trumpet—
Mingus on bass—
Powell on piano—
Roach on drums—
Bird on alto – all greats—
musical phrases start early—
end late—
accents in the wrong place—
substitute chords over substitute chords over substitute chords—
the tempo is hectic—
fast—
off the metronome—
Bird’s lines are long and flowing—
his technique flawless—
the notes come from his gut—
fellow musicians are at the bar listening with praise—
they know genius—
Bird’s Ornithology is the tune—
chords borrowed—
How high the moon—
how high—
Be-bop—
1949