NYC VIBE TALKS WITH THE OWNER OF THE LEGENDARY JAZZ CLUB BIRDLAND

NYC VIBE was just told the fundraising concert to save the iconic New York jazz club Birdland raised more than $450,000 which assures the club will stay open awaiting word when it can resume performances following NYC COVID rules.

The fundraising efforts were highlighted by a free streaming concert that first aired on January 24 and is available on replay.

The lineup for the event included former President Bill Clinton, legendary music executive Clive Davis, Elvis Costello, Jeff Daniels and Leslie Odom Jr and more.

The jazz club, named after Charlie “Yardbird” Parker, originally opened its doors in 1949 but has struggled under the city’s lockdowns due to COVID-19. After indoor dining was shut down, the club attempted to launch a concert series, Radio Free Birdland, that would stream live from the venue’s stage, but plans were cut short when stricter lockdown mandates were put in place.

Tom D’Angora and his husband, Michael, as well as Tim Guinee, began raising much-needed funds with a GoFundMe that collected more than $200,000 within a week. The concert marked the final push for the producers’ attempts to save the club.

Others who took part in the concert included Matthew Broderick, Ken Burns, Peter Cincotti, Giancarlo Esposito, Diana Krall, Melissa Leo, Norm Lewis, Manhattan Transfer, Wynton Marsalis, Bebe Neuwirth, Mandy Patinkin, John Pizzarelli, Martha Plimpton, Chita Rivera, Randy Rainbow, Mercedes Ruehl, Catherine Russell, Billy Stritch and Veronica Swift.

The “Save Birdland: A Celebration of Music, History and Community” helped bring awareness to the GoFundMe set up to help the club pay off debts incurred over the span of the COVID-19 pandemic.