The 17th annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival was a sight to behold.
At my first Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, as well as my first ever jazz concert, I was mesmerized by the sights and sounds which paid tribute to one of the greatest jazz musicians ever. The concert featured a few up and comers such as Benny Reid, a young saxophonist, and Jose James, a young singer with a tremendous voice capable of producing the most soulful of melodies. Gary Bartz followed on alto sax, utilizing styles both old and new. Showing the audience that hip-hop is a true musical form, he brought his son on stage to rap a few bars. While that may have pleased the younger demographic (the few that were there), most probably felt it sacrilegious to infuse the purity of jazz with the more modern sounds of hip-hop. 
On the other hand, the jazz purists got what they came for when the legendary Frank Wess took to the stage. Playing the sounds of the 40′s and 50′s, Wess transported the older members of the audience back to the days when jazz was young and pure. Overall, a great day of music and celebration. Coincidentally, another musical genius’ birthday fell on the same day as the great Charlie Parker, the recently deceased Michael Jackson. While both entirely different in their styles, they both possessed the capacity to influence generations to come.
– Text by Daniel Keltz, Contributing Writer & Sophomore at Temple University.
