Edmonton Jazz Legend Leads Yardbird Suite’s 65th Anniversary
P.J. Perry was 15 years old when he played the original Yardbird Suite in 1957 – and now all these years later he’s back again to celebrate the local jazz club’s 65th anniversary.
This is what dedication to the Edmonton music scene looks like.
“I can assure you I never thought at 80 I’d be feeling really well, and confident about my musical abilities,” he says. “It’s taken a really long time, but I think it’s all starting to come together.”
Old joke. Back then Edmonton’s Yardbird Suite (named for the Charlie Parker tune) was located in an alley off Whyte Avenue near the old Army & Navy, which itself is long gone. Liquor licenses didn’t exist in those days cuz we were a “dry” town, eh?
At its present location, 11 Tommy Banks Way, the Juno-winning saxophonist has curated four entirely different sets Oct. 14-15: His own quintet, plus Kent Sangster and his 18-piece Jazz Orchestra, a fusion of big band and classical sensibilities. They’re also attempting the famous “Super Sax” routine, in which transcribed Charlie Parker solos are reproduced in five-part harmony by five different saxophones at the same time, which sounds as insanely difficult as it is.
“But we’re going to try it,” says P.J. “It’s unbelievably exciting.”
Asked what his secret is, he answers honestly, “I don’t know.” He does have a new recording – “the first I’ve done that I wrote all the music. That’s a first for me, and I’m very proud of the project.”
Tickets to the 65th anniversary celebrations are available through the Yardbird website.
