Hear the music and story of the greatest sax player. Alto saxophonist Charlie Parker was one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, forging a brand new genre in jazz, bebop, with fast tempos, virtuosic technique and advanced harmonies. Tonight, saxophonist Neil Maya celebrates some of Charlie’s finest compositions as well as some great jazz standards that Charlie brought to prominence. In between numbers Neil will also talk about Charlie’s eventful and troubled short life and the influence he had on jazz.
Saxophonist Neil Maya plays in many jazz bands including the ‘Drat Pack’, All Jazzed Up, the nationally touring ‘Magnificent Buble’, and his own quartet. He has been praised for his“electrifying performance with crisp melody lines and improvisation”. Neil will be accompanied by pianist Philip Clouts, with Kevin Sanders on the bass and Gary Evans at the drums. The quartet will be playing many of Charlie’s most famous compositions and recordings including Ornithology, Yardbird Suite, Now’s the Time, Blues For Alice, Cherokee and many more.
"You can tell the history of jazz in four words: Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker.” Miles Davis
