Producers Tom D’Angora and Tim Guinee have stepped up to organize another GoFundMe, this time for the truly legendary Birdland Jazz Club. Three weeks ago, in December, D’Angora and Guinee launched a campaign to save the West Bank Café and the Laurie Beechman Theatre, which included a telethon of stars on Christmas day. The successful campaign, with community-generated contributions, raised the funds to rescue the West Bank from inevitable closure.
Shortly after the “Christmas miracle,” D’Angora’s longtime friends, Jim Caruso and Susie Mosher, reached out to inform him that Birdland was similarly in danger of closing its doors for good in just a few weeks. Already, the City has lost many long-standing institutions, including the fabled 21 Club and restaurant as well as the Jazz Standard and the Copacabana, among others.
Birdland Jazz Club, named after the jazz saxophone legend, Charlie “Bird” Parker, was founded in 1949. It’s been a premiere destination in the jazz community ever since, recently expanding its scope into cabaret with the addition of the downstairs Birdland Theater.
But like many other independently owned small businesses, the COVID pandemic has ravaged the club, causing a pileup of debt in rent and incidentals that, with regular patronage and income, made Birdland a true “jazz corner of the world”. Live music is the heartbeat of New York City, and Birdland is top among them, hosting, without exaggeration, the greatest vocalists and musicians in the world.
Donations of any amount will help ensure Birdland can weather the devastating pandemic storm.
Please click here to help Save Birdland.
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