Vivid Visions: Memories of Bird

Take a deeper dive into the life and legacy of Charlie "Bird" Parker with one of Kansas City's foremost jazz historians, Chuck Haddix. As Director of the Marr Sound Archives at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, host of KCUR's long-running Fish Fry radio program, and acclaimed author of Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker and Kansas City Jazz: From Ragtime to Bebop, Haddix has spent decades preserving and sharing the stories behind Kansas City's legendary jazz scene.

Through photographs, stories, music, and historical insight, this engaging Vivid Visions presentation explores the people, places, and experiences that shaped Charlie Parker's remarkable journey—from his early days in Kansas City to becoming the revolutionary artist whose bebop innovations forever changed jazz. Whether you're a lifelong jazz enthusiast or discovering Bird's story for the first time, you'll leave with a deeper appreciation for the city that helped shape one of the world's greatest musicians.

• Tuesday, August 19th, 2026
• Doors open at 6:00 PM