Playing Parker's music in the club named after Parker is a loaded proposition, and the Yardbird Big Band handles it by treating bebop as a big-band idiom rather than a small-group museum piece — the lines that Parker played alone get handed to whole sections. David DeJesus directs from the reeds, and the band is stocked with players who work the Broadway pits a few blocks away. If you want the deep end of New York's jazz labor pool on a stage this size, this is where they land.
What to expect
Two evening sets in the club's main room with table and bar seating, sold separately. The band plays a full big-band book with extended solo features. Food and drink service runs through the sets, and the room reseats between them.
Good to know
- Birdland is on West 44th between Eighth and Ninth, walkable from the A, C and E at 42nd Street.
- Table seating carries a food and beverage minimum; bar seating carries a smaller one.
- Each set is a separate ticket and the room clears in between.
- Seating within each tier is by arrival, so arriving early gets a better table.
- The club is one level down; call the box office ahead about access.
- The block is dense with pre-theater dinner options if you want to eat first.
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Common questions
How many sets are there?
The band plays two evening sets, ticketed separately, with the room clearing in between.
Why is the band called Yardbird?
It references Charlie Parker's nickname, which is also the origin of the club's name.
Is there a minimum?
Yes — a food and beverage minimum applies, higher at tables than at the bar.
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