Charlie Parker 101 Years

Multi-instrumentalist Magnus Lindgren is one of Sweden’s leading names in jazz. Alongside the super-swinging SWR Big Band from Stuttgart and American pianist John Beasley, at this concert he will pay tribute to the legendary alto saxophonist, “Bird” or “Yardbird” – whose lightning-quick, masterful playing and harmonic boldness set a new standard for what jazz could be.

Charlie Parker would have turned 100 years old in August last year. Due to the pandemic, we celebrate now instead. The new album Bird Lives (ACT) is released in connection with this concert.

The Grammy and Emmy award-winning composer, arranger and pianist John Beasley has played with legends like Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Dianne Reeves, Steely Dan, Marcus Miller, Chaka Khan and James Brown. He has also composed music for film (the Bond movies Spectre and Skyfall; Finding Dory and more). For several years he was Music Director at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, which is now the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.

Magnus Lindgren has released ten albums and along with trumpet player and singer Peter Asplund, he is Artistic Director of Konserthuset’s Blue House Orchestra. Since 2018, he has been active in a three-year Artist-in-Residence position with the guest-performing SWR Big Band (Stuttgart Radio Big Band), founded in 1951 and this year celebrating 70 years.