ADAM Masterson

‘Built in 1849, this brownstone row house is a rare surviving example of a residential building built in the gothic revival style, a style most often used for churches. Notable features include the pointed entrance way with clustered polonetes. The prominent hood molding and a trefoil relief below the projecting box cornice. From 1950 to 1954 this building was the home of Charlie ‘the bird’ Parker. The world renowned alto saxophonist. Parker was the cofounder of bebop, the modern jazz style that he and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie created during the mid 1940’s.’

I’m leaning on the black railings, sipping a coffee from the 9th street expresso, looking up at the old place. I’m imagining Charlie Parker up and down these streets nearly sixty years ago. Living hand to mouth no doubt, looking for his next score. I bet he crashed in that basement room down in front of me.

I’m a block down from where I’m living on Charlie Parker Place, the stretch of Avenue B, that runs along Tompkins Square Park from 10th street to 7th street. They say Charlie busked as a street musician for his next fix, and today if you take a walk through the park, you’ll probably hear some old dude with a saxophone buskin out his blues, don’t think it’s any homage to ‘the bird’, just a case of some things never change. I saw one of them a few weeks ago, something about him must have entertained me cos I smiled as i passed. ‘Hey you like that?’ he said ‘… that’s a tough tune… a tough tune!’…’Tough town’ i replied. Well you should have heard him yell and holler, i looked over my shoulder and saw him take the glasses from his face to wipe away the laughter, before blowing back on another long deep note.

I’m gonna take a bench in the park and watch the world go by for 15 minuets. The suns back out again in New York city and it’s a cool crisp morning. My flu’s passed, still a bit of a cold but it feels so good to be free and up and about.

Tonight I’m off to BB kings on Time Square to watch Leon Russell. Only the other day I was watching him on ‘The Concert For Bangladesh’ DVD. Looking forward to the show.

Next up I’m playing at Piano’s on Ludlow this Tuesday 27th Oct it’s a night called called ‘Cross Pollination’. More on this tomorrow…

Adam