The incomparable life and extraordinary, trailblazing career of jazz titan and influential composer Charlie Parker will be honored throughout 2020 with a worldwide celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth. Lovingly dubbed Bird 100 after the nickname of the preeminent alto saxophonist who was one of the fathers of bebop and progenitors of modern jazz, the centennial will include a host of major initiatives including exciting new music releases, a tribute tour, festivals and events, prestigious exhibitions, special partnerships, a unique graphic novel, exclusive collectible art, and myriad of independent appreciations and concerts.

Charlie Parker’s longtime label Verve Records, in conjunction with UMe, kick off the yearlong celebration with a vinyl LP pressing of Bird’s rare and long out of print 12″ LP, The Magnificent Charlie Parker from 1955. Adorned with the quintessential David Stone Martin cover and original Clef labeling, the 12-song LP collection finds Parker going toe-to-toe with frequent collaborators Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Kenny Clarke and John Lewis amidst sterling arrangements by Gil Evans. The Magnificent Charlie Parker gathers all of Bird’s 78 RPM singles for Clef including best-known compositions like “Au Privave,” “Si Si” and “Swedish Schnapps.”