Charlie Parker Centennial Mini Series: Gerald Spaits Quintet feat. Charles Perkins & Jack Lightfoot

Additional time info:

Kansas City saxophonist Charlie "Yardbird" Parker was born August 29th, 1920. To commemorate his centennial birthday, the American Jazz Museum is hosting a mini music series in the GEM Theater! Doors open at 4:00 pm with limited tickets available. Social distancing measures will be enforced, which includes a mask requirement upon entry.

Gerald Spaits

Gerald Spaits, a native of Kansas City, is one of the foremost bass players in the Kansas City area. Spaits has enjoyed an active career including playing with jazz legends Jay McShann and Claude “Fiddler” Williams. Appearing with national recording artists Herb Ellis, Karrin Allyson, Marilyn Maye, Gary Foster, and The Woody Herman Orchestra, among others. He has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the San Jose Jazz Festival, and the World’s Fair in Seville, Spain. Mr. Spaits is the adjunct assistant professor of jazz string bass at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and leads a bass ensemble at UMKC. He also teaches private lessons.

Charles Perkins

“Charles Perkins’ alto sax has soared since standing out in the 1980s’ New Breed Orchestra. Whether quoting, note for note, a Charlie Parker solo or rapidly weaving in and out of his own smartly conceived, complex lines, Perkins has always been worth seeking out. Then there’s Gerald Spaits, a musician whom other musicians seek out. You might find the versatile bassist backing Marilyn Maye, Karrin Allyson or the Trumpet Summit, or filling in with the People’s Liberation Big Band.”

Jack Lightfoot

Trumpeter Jack Lightfoot is a veteran of the Kansas CIty music scene. His primary group, Too Big 2 Fail, plays a wide variety of genres including latin jazz, funk, and R&B classics. He’s performed in Kansas City venues such as The Blue Room, The Ship and Californos.

Charlie Parker Foundation

Spaits, Perkins, and Lightfoot are all representatives of The Charlie Parker Foundation. The organization was founded in 1971 by Eddie Baker to promote and provide music education and preserve Kansas City’s musical heritage. The Foundation provided a teaching and learning environment for many area musicians as well as an opportunity to perform and see performances. Eddie was a longtime advocate for a jazz hall of fame in Kansas City years before the American Jazz Museum at 18th and Vine. If it were not for the inspiration and dedication of Eddie we probably wouldn’t have a jazz museum in Kansas City. Jack Lightfoot was one of the lead instructors at the Foundation from 1977 till they closed. Other notable teachers included Sonny Kenner, Ahmad Alladean, Ronald Brown, Everett Brown, Hurley Dennis and many more. Charles Perkins was a student there and later became a teacher. During that time Scott Robinson and Phil DeGreg, who went on to become notable jazz players, were also students. Other students participating in  the New Breed Orchestra at the Foundation were Mark Pender, Kevin Mahogany, Angie Wellman, Tim Williams and many others, who went on to be successful musicians. Gerald Spaits played in the big band, Eddie Bakers New Breed Orchestra and the Parker Foundation Quintet who performed numerous concerts at schools throughout the Kansas City area.