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.

Houston Smith
To whom much is given, much is required!” This quote is one of many that multi-instrumentalist Houston M. Smith tries to live by daily. Smith, a young entrepreneur and musician has solidified that living this mantra affords seen & unseen radical blessings of every variety. At a mere four years old, Houston displayed a unique passion for the drums and other percussion instruments. He studied privately under percussion great, Mr. Leon Brady at Brady Music Studio for 10 years. At the age of 10, Smith indirectly discovered an unknown passion for a new instrument; switched his musical focus to the alto saxophone. Shortly after, he joined Kansas City Youth Jazz (KCYJ), a program designed to educate youth about ‘jazz’ through experience, exposure and performance.

Morgan Faw
Saxophonist, Bandleader, Composer, and Arranger Morgan Faw has grown up living around the United States, but grew up as a musician in Kansas City, MO and is now studying Saxophone Performance formally at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Morgan’s passion for music had been present since he was very little, but his passion for the arts developed after moving to Kansas City, Missouri in 2012. It was not his family who taught him music, but rather an entire community of mentors, teachers, and local artists who surrounded and supported his learning of not just how to play the saxophone but also taught him the history and the importance of Kansas City jazz that has helped Morgan develop into the musician he is today.