Fall 2005 - The BBC are putting together a programme for release this Autumn on Charlie. They have been in Kansas filming and New York also. Here is a brief outline of the programme: "The documentary is an hour long programme which is being made for BBC 4. We haven't got a transmission date for it yet but I think it will be sometime in the Autumn. The programme features many interviews from people that knew Charlie Parker and people that have written about him. In particular there are new interviews from Kim Parker, Roy Haines, Jay McShann, Sheila Jordan, Gary Giddins, Phil Woods. We also filmed part of the Brecon Jazz festival that featured Phil Woods performing pieces from Charlie Parker and Strings.

5-9-2005 Dizzy's memorablia is to be auctioned. Dawson and Nye Auctioneers.

29-8-2005 Celebrations for Charlie's 85th birthday in the KC Star. And again in the KC Star.

23-8-2005 BBC Radio feature Charlie Parker in a series called Birdsong, by Russell Davis. More about the series here.

23-8-2005 New release: DIZZY GILLESPIE/ CHARLIE PARKER Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945. Billboard Review

26-3-2005 www.birdlives.co.uk gets press coverage!! From the KC Star or alternatively, try a reproduction here. Also here and here for a reproduction

14-6-2005 Bird’s sax is where it belongs! The Sale of the King Saxophone that made all the news earlier in the year, collapsed because the inheritors disagreed over something?? Nothing new there....

19-4-2005 Stan Levey dies.

8-4-2005 Charlie Parker songs headed for re-release by Koch Records

In the Jazzwise (March 2005) tribute to the anniversary of Parker's death, Brian Preistley writes a rather reluctant article on Parker, but at the end of the article is a note saying that he will be publishing "Now's The Time: The Achievement of Charlie Parker is to be published by Equinox Books in September"! (Actually just found it on Equinox's website and it's supposed to be released in June and it's called Chasin' the Bird!) Correction, I've just looked at the site again, and it's been put back until October this year? Hopefully, he'll be correcting the errors in the first one!).

Coverage of the fiftieth anniversary of Charlie Parker's death.
I just wanted to see what kind of headlines Bird could get after 50 years. I think the auction of the saxophone actually got more press that the anniversary of his death, but what is surprising is the geographical range. I was disappointed, although not surprised at the lack of coverage in Britain. Only the Telegraph showed any interest, not even the BBC News covered the story, although Radio 3 did have a tribute program.
Downbeat Magazine missed out on this event, preferring not to print anything about Parker. Rather sad.....

This is not an exhaustive list, just what came up in a simple Google search.......

This one is a glowing tribute with memories from Charles McPherson, but says Parker died of a drug overdose??
Jazz fans still flock to Charlie Parker 50 years later NO LONGER AVAILABLE

The Times of India quotes Anthony Braxton.
Charlie Parker: The Bird legacy lives on NO LONGER AVAILABLE

SIFY News in India also quotes a former member of 'Kool and the Gang'??
Charlie Parker: His music refuses to die down

NPR news network published poem by Joseph Pacheco called "The Night Charlie Parker Played Tenor at Montmartre Café in Greenwich Village"
Remembering Bird: A Poem for Charlie Parker

From South Africa, and even mentions Phillip Larkin.
Jazz history lesson: Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker

Of course, there are those still trying to make a buck out of Bird, even to use the anniversary of his death!!
Charlie Parker Honored by Savoy Jazz; ``The Genius of Charlie Parker'' Celebrates 60 Years On The Historic Jazz Label NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Martin Gayford writes eloquently in the Telegraph in London.
He blew them all away

Mike Zwerin in the International Herald Tribune is also eloquent, but gets his age wrong?
Listening to Bird, still flying

Italy: Charlie Parker, il genio che fece rinascere il jazz

Spain: Charlie Parker: como un pájaro libre

Ecuador: Medio siglo sin Charlie Parker, un genio del jazz

Cuba: Se conmemora el 50 aniversario de la muerte de Charlie Bird Parker

Mexico: Charlie Parker, autodestructivo héroe del jazz, vigente a 50 años de muerto

and Mexico again: Charly Parker, 50 años de muerto (sic)

Switzerland: Il y a 50 ans mourait Charlie Parker NO LONGER AVAILABLE

India: Also has an interesting poll: "Which of these nicknames suited their owners best?"

Germany: Charlie Parker starb vor 50 Jahren
(Getting the cause of death wrong again??)

Other News

Mintons to re-open

Parker's Saxophone sells for $225,000
http://www.guernseys.com/Auctions/Jazz/Features/Parker.html

Alteration to Accepted Swedish Line-up
Torsten Johansson,Uppsala,Sweden - Nov 24,1950 on his tour in Sweden Parker was giving a concert in Folkets Park, Halsingborg. After that there was a jam session in the Folkets Park restaurant. Both the concert and the jam were (at least partially) recorded and it has not been clear who is playing the drums on the jam session part. In the latest issue of Orkesterjournalen the now 74 year old Eric Saxell claims that he is on drums together with bassist Folke Holst and Lennart Nilson,p. The were all members of The Jack Philips band, that was playng in Folkets Park that night. Saxell (name Nilsson at the time) is asked why he has never mentioned this before: Well,nobody ever asked he says..!
(From Bird eGroup)