I posted this on the EM MySpace blog and thought I should post it here as well

This past weekend I did something I have wanted to do for years but for one reason or another have never gotten the opportunity to do. I have always wanted to go to Kansas City, Missouri. I have always wanted to visit the American Jazz Museum, the Negro Baseball League Museum, see a Royals game, the famous 18th and Vine district best known for all the great jazz that has been played there. But most of all, I wanted to go to Kansas City because it is the final resting place of Charlie Parker.

Years ago, there was a debate in Kansas City over whether the grave of Charlie Parker should be moved from the obscure location of Lincoln Cemetary to a more accesible locale around the 18th and Vine district. Many musicians and fans feel that Lincoln is not a proper burial site for Bird and that he should be somewhere where people who come from all over the world can easily find him and pay their respects.

This past Saturday morning, I left my hotel room with several objectives, the first and most important one being to visit Bird. My mapquest directions told me that the cemetary was only ten minutes away from my hotel. Great, I thought. I’ll visit Bird, hit the museums then go to the game. I followed the directions on the map, but the cemetary was not as easy to find as I thought it would be. Back and forth I drove down the same street in search of Lincoln Cemetary. I even stopped three different people and asked them where the cemetary was. None of them knew. In fact, two of the people I asked were actually half a mile from the cemetary and they didn’t have a clue. For two hours I drove around the same five mile radius searching for Bird. I didn’t care. It could have been four hours. I wouldn’t have stopped searching. But I was getting frustrated. The morning turned into afternoon and I wondered if all my other plans would fall by the wayside as I knew that if I didn’t find Bird’s grave site, the whole trip would be a failure for me.

I drove and drove. In fact, I came across two other cemetaries during my search. Finally, I became so frustrated, I just decided to take this little side street and see where it lead me. I turned and within seconds I saw a sign. The closer I got to it, the more elated I became until finally I could make out the words on the sign. “Lincoln Cemetary - Resting Place of Charlie “Bird” Parker”

Sitting quietly amongst a grove of tall trees and shade was the grave of Charlie Parker. Right next to him was the grave of his dear mother Addie. I had found it. Within this tiny cemetary a legend was laid to rest. The place was so peaceful, so quiet that there were even a few deer grazing nearby. To me, it was the perfect place for Bird to be. Even more perfect was the fact that I was there all alone. For a few precious minutes I had time alone with the man who changed the way I looked at the world and at music.

I knelt down to the ground and brushed away the few twigs and pebbles from the tombstone and I placed my hand on the cool marble. Silently, I began thanking Bird for what he had given me, for introducing himself to a fifteen year old kid and completely rearranging his view of the world around him. And just then (and I swear this is true), a black bird flew by my head so close I could hear the beat of its wings against its breasts, and it settled into a tree nearby and watched me. Now, I’m not saying Bird heard me or that that was some kind of sign. But I will say that I will never forget that moment. And if you love Bird as much as I do, I think you understand why I feel that way.

Should Bird’s grave be moved? I can understand why some would want it moved. But for several reasons, I feel he should remain where he is. For one thing, if you move Bird you must move his mother as well. They should always remain together. Secondly, 18th and Vine is a nice area, but busy, especially with tourist traffic. Lincoln Cemetary, while not large or overly impressive is quiet, serene. There are no honking horns or constant foot traffic. Only the chirp of birds, deer grazing nearby and the cool shade of those big, beautiful trees. Yes, Bird was hard to find, but for those who want to see him and thank him badly enough, his grave will be found.

I took pictures while I was there. You can view them here:

Resting Place of Charlie “Bird” Parker

Well, I am not sure if you noticed or not, but I haven’t updated the station since last Sunday. Reason being, I spent the last five days at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. That Drifters song, “I’ve Got Sand In My Shoes” kept repeating itself over and over in my head over the past week.  No matter what people may say, the best time to go to the beach is a week or two after Labor Day. The crowds and tourists are gone. The shore is empty. All you have is cool ocean breezes, the geriatric crowd and plenty of space and time to make memories. All you need is a blanket, a bottle of wine and your love, and nature will provide the rest. Skies dappled with starlight. The sound of the ocean rushing up and crashing upon the shore. Lock it away, that memory. Because another one just as good may be a long time in coming. The greatest thing about a vacation is that it reminds you that life is not all cubicles and flourescent lighting. There is beauty out there.

Oh, the boardwalk’s deserted
There’s nobody down by the sho-o-o-o-ore
And the ferris wheel ride isn’t turning around any m-o-ore-ore-ore
The heat wave and the crowds are just old new-ooh-ews
But I’ve still got some sand in my shoes

So Claire and I skipped out of work early today so we could catch a matinee showing of “The Notorious Bettie Page”. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about her except for the fact that she was a pin-up queen during the 50’s. It was a really good film. The music was excellent, by the way — Artie Shaw, Miles Davis, Paul Desmond…. The one thing that struck me about the movie, though, was how lascivious men can be. Claire used to model when she was younger, so I figured she would know how low men would try to go to try to get…well, you know. After the film I felt compelled to ask her if men are really that bad. She said, “Yeah, men can get pretty sleazy sometimes.” Made me a bit ashamed of my gender. In the film, Ms. Page comes off as both strong and independent and naive as well. Sometimes you feel sympathy for her and at other times you tend to wonder what she was thinking. Still, thumbs up from me. Anything that veers away from the conventional will always appeal to me and NBP definitely does that.

By the way, there was also some Patsy Cline played during the movie. As a jazz fan, I often wonder what Patsy Cline would have sounded like singing “Embraceable You” or “My Funny Valentine”. One of the greatest voices ever. In a way, she and Jo Stafford kind of favor in that there is a certain pristine clarity to their voices. Unmuddled, undiluted — just pure and strong. Sarah Vaughan had that too. Have you ever heard “Three Cigarettes in An Ashtray” by Patsy Cline? Man, I could listen to that song over and over. That’s a “slow dance by the light of the jukebox” kind of song. Love it. She was an original for sure.

This weekend I took my girlfriend to the beautiful Falls Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee. It was her birthday and she had never been there and always wanted to go. It was the perfect weekend to go. Temperatures in the 70’s, plenty of sunshine with cozy thunderstorms arriving during the late afternoons and night. We had a great time. There’s nothing quite a nice as walking a quiet, lush nature trail during a late afternoon rainstorm. All you can hear are the pitter patter of raindrops on the leaves and the sound of the rushing waterfalls nearby. 

The picture below is probably my favorite. Standing here made me feel quite peaceful, and for a few moments all thoughts of jobs and stress and unhappiness dissipated.

If you like to hike and you want a nice weekend getaway here in Tennessee, Falls Creek Falls is not a bad place to start.

So I went to this jazz concert tonight at the Belcourt Theatre here in town. Let me give you a little background info on the Belcourt before I continue. It was opened back in the 20’s and served as a movie house for silent films. The Grand Ole Opry was there during the 30’s. It later became a venue for both live stage performances as well as films. In the 60’s it went back to its original use as a movie theater. I didn’t get pictures tonight because I was with a friend and wasn’t sure she would appreciate me being “the photog” this evening. But you can see pictures and find out more about the theater here: www.belcourt.org. The Belcourt holds a special place in my heart because back in the old days (the 90’s and before), the Belcourt was the only movie theater that would show independent films. Back then independent films didn’t make big profits, so the multiplexes weren’t interested in showing them. Nowadays, over half the best picture nominees would have been considered independent films. But the Belcourt showed them even when they knew the audience would be virtually nonexistent. They even showed revival films. The first time I ever saw “Taxi Driver” on the big screen, it was at the Belcourt. Same goes for “Midnight Cowboy”, “The Maltese Falcon” and “Casablanca”. It’s a special place. What makes it even more special is the fact that it was almost shut down for good in the 90’s and people banned together and saved it. Hopefully, it will be around for years to come.

Well, tonight was a special evening at the Belcourt. Not only was there a jazz concert, but my eyes were opened as well. There can be great jazz in Nashville. And it doesn’t have to be Smooth Jazz. Forgive me Smooth Jazz fans, but I consider Smooth Jazz to be a mental laxative. My dentist plays Smooth Jazz in his office. Whenever I get a cavity filled, I tell him to hold the novocaine. My whole body was numb the minute I walked in. Anyway, enough with the vitriol. How about a few names? How about Ed Thigpen (the great Oscar Peterson trio drummer) How about Houston Person (the tenor saxophonist who caresses a ballad like a man gently running his fingers along the bare shoulder of his lover. If it wasn’t so enticing, you’d almost be ashamed for being there. Almost like you were intruding on a man and his horn.)? These two titans were kind enough to grace our fair city and leave a few hundred people sighing in the night. There was an altoist there as well named James Aebersold. I’d never heard of him, but he was quite competent on his horn and when he played Body & Soul, well, I was down for the count. Rounding out the rhythm section were Lori Mechem on Piano, Roger Spencer on Bass, and Marcus Finnie on Drums. All new names to me, but they were all impressive in their playing. Most of the tunes played were standards, and there were more than a handful of ballads (which filled me with a sense of quiet elan). “Tenderly”, “I’m Glad There Is You”,”Since I Fell For You”. Phew! And when we thought it was all over, Person came back with one more tune, “What A Wonderful World”. What a warm, inviting tone this man has. I’m so grateful to have had a chance to hear him.

Tonight was a great night of music. Jazz is alive and well in Music City.