WKCR is ecstatic to announce the return of a very special three-day birthday broadcast celebrating Lester “Prez” Young and Charlie “Bird” Parker. Each year we celebrate these saxophone legends, starting with Prez’s birthday on August 27th and ending with Bird’s birthday on August 29th – bridging the two with a shared day of celebration on the 28th. This special broadcast will preempt all regularly scheduled Thursday, Friday, and Saturday programming from midnight on the 27th until midnight on the 29th.
Lester Young, “President” of the saxophone, truly began to shine in his own unique style during his time with the Count Basie Orchestra, starting in 1933. On tunes like “Taxi War Dance,” “D.B. Blues,” and “Lester Leaps In,” you can hear his signature light touch, quick and subtle vibrato, lyrical phrasing, and sophisticated harmonic improvisation. His close relationship with Billie Holiday was the origin of both of their nicknames – him calling her “Lady Day” and her calling him “Prez” – and led to some of the most memorable recordings ever made. Their recordings together, such as “A Sailboat in the Moonlight” and “Mean to Me,” remain among the most moving and influential duets in jazz history. Lester Young changed the way the tenor saxophone could be played, opening up new emotional and stylistic possibilities and influencing generations of saxophone players to come – including a young Charlie Parker.
Miles Davis once said: “You can tell the history of jazz in four words: Louis Armstrong. Charlie Parker.” In the spirit of this brevity, we shall forgo the usual biographical details of Charlie Parker's enigmatic, however infinitely influential, 34-year-long life. While some aspects of his life – such as the origins of his nickname – remain a mystery, it is no mystery that Bird changed the course of music history. His influence is most definitely felt at WKCR. Due to Phil Shaap’s admiration for and devotion to Bird, and his legendary “Birdflight” shows on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, Charlie Parker is to this day the most played artist at the station.
Listeners can join the 3-day celebration for Prez and Bird by tuning in to 89.9 FM or streaming the birthday broadcast live on our website, wkcr.org. Follow WKCR on Instagram (@wkcr) and Twitter (@WKCRFM) for updates about this special broadcast and future events. As always, online listening is available 24/7 at wkcr.org via our web stream
