Charlie Parker - “Bird” - the innovative saxophonist and composer and a key leader in the development of Bebop in the 1940’s was born August 29, 1920 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Parker did not do a lot of recorded interviews, but one truly fascinating one was done with alto saxophonist Paul Desmond in 1954 with radio host John McLellan in Boston. Saxophonist Bob Reynolds of Snarky Puppy has a link to it at his personal web site. We share a bit of it with you on the show - and encourage you to click on the link for all of it.

On the radio show, we listen to classic sounds of Charlie Parker with Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Miles Davis and more.

A summer’s end tradition is upon us - the Roger Humphries River Boat Ride on the Gateway Clipper is Sunday August 28 from 12:30 to 4 - with the RH Factor band featuring Max Leake, Dwayne Dolphin, JD Chaisson, Reggie Watkins, Tony Campbell and George Jones plus vocals by Dred “Perky” Scott and Chantal Joseph - and the awarding of the Pass it On award to Mensah Wali of Kente Arts. We caught up with Roger to talk about the boat ride and other things.

Mensah Wali and Kente Arts have a great new season of music starting September 10th - with vocalist Catherine Russell at the New Hazlett Theater.

Tune in - Thursday night at 6, repeated Saturday at noon and Sunday at 5 on “THE SCENE” on WZUM - All on the radio on WZUM!