Dr. Billy Taylor to recieive the
The 7th Annual Charlie Parker Award
at the Americana Jazz Festival in New York City
The 52nd St. Americana Jazz Festival will present the 7th annual Charlie Parker Memorial Award on Sunday, September 6th. The presentation will be made to Dr. Billy Taylor by Parker’s wife, Doris Parker, on the main stage at 6th Ave. & 52nd St. at 2PM. Well know to many as a gifted jazz painist, compser and broadcaster, Taylor is also widely recognized for his strides in jazz education. He began his professional career in the late 1940’s as house pianist at Birdland, where he performed with such jazz greats as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Haynes. During his 50+ years in jazz, Dr. Taylor has received numerous prestigious awards, including Downbeat Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship Award and the Congressional Medal of the Arts.
The Americana Festival will be held on 52nd St. from Lexington Ave. to 7th Avenue on September 6th from 11AM-6PM. Begun 23 years ago by the City of New York, the Festival continues to be the most innovative of all street events in the City. There will be continuous entertainment throughout the day beginning with a free concert by the Judy Barnett Quintet on the main stage from Noon-5PM. In addition, there will be small combos on each of the blocks of the Festival.
Over 400 antique and craft exhibitors will be participating in this event and will exhibit thousands of “one of a kind” items, featuring art deco, folk art, vintage memorabilita and clothing. The Festival is free and open to all. For further info call 212-764-6330..