Gotham
Yardbird Sanctuary
is a not-for-profit 501 (C)(3) organization that was founded in response to the 2020 global pandemic and it’s impact on NYC’s Jazz community and local businesses.
During the pandemic, GYS came up with a groud-breaking creative stage making by curating free-to-all Live Jazz performances in various places all over NYC, such as restaurants and bars, art museums and galleries, food courts, churches, organic rooftop gardens. etc.
After gaining strong collaboration experiences with great local nonprofits and businesses, we are planning to take on meaningful projects and campaigns for social justice causes.
GYS will revive NYC with the great unifying power of Jazz and rebuild this city as a sanctuary for Jazz musicians and aspiring artists from all over the world.
Introducing Greenbird Initiative!
“Humans merely share the earth. We can only protect the land, not own it”
So The Bird said.
To honor our name sake Charlie “Yardbird” Parker’s vision toward the relationship between mankind and nature, GYS is proposing Greenbird Initiative as our core philosophy to be reflected on all our programming.
GYS will partner with other non-profit organizations and businesses that are devoted to solve environmental issues and promote green urban living in local communities.
We are starting Greenbird Initiative with Earthday Celebration event on 4/18/2021 at Maria Hernandez Park in Bushwick from 10am to 3pm with non-profit Clean Bushwick Initiative and incredible alleys of organizations including Cup Zero, Reusable Solutions, Deliver Zero, BK Rot, Sane Energy Project etc. to bring awareness on green grassroots movement in NYC!!
Introducing Yardbird Jazz Messengers project!
Function as a free-of-charge booking agent for Jazz artists to provide world-class Live Jazz entertainment
Through our brand new project, Yardbird jazz Messengers, GYS will be functioning as a booking agent to book various Jazz ensembles for private/corporate/wedding events and some public events through out the city.
This booking service will be provided with free-of-charge for Jazz artists and the booking fees will be used in GYS projects for the betterment of Jazz community and local businesses.
Also, in Yardbird Jazz Messenger project, GYS will use Greenbird Initiative to partner with green-conscious and community-driven event venues and event industries. GYS will give booking discounts to the clients who will choose our partner venues/vendors for the conscientious event planning.
During May 2021, GYS Yardbird Jazz Messengers started campaign collaboration with well-established nonprofit Street Lab near historic residence of our namesake Charlie Parker on Avenue B and 9th street to bring Live Jazz where Street Lab bring obstacle courses and chalk drawing kit for kids to play and listen to the music.
Creative stage-making project: Yardbird Jam
Create immediate jobs with respectable pay for Jazz musicians
Now, more than ever, the need to create a livelihood for Jazz musicians is dire.
Under Creative stage-making project, our programming Yardbird jam has produced free-to-all Live Jazz performances even during indoor dining ban during Winter 2020/2021, the most difficult time for Jazz artists and local businesses in NYC.
GYS ensures a minimum $100 per musician for each show to commeasure their artistic contributions.
Support local business with subsidized Live Jazz entertainment
Due to Covid-related restrictions, local restaurants and bars have no budget for music attractions. The places where musicians had played regularly have canceled most of the shows.
GYS Yardbird Jam program will pay for the full performance fees to allow local businesses to restart their Live music shows.
GYS brings high quality of Jazz, curated by our president Mitch Borden, the original founder of legendary Jazz clubs Smalls and Fat Cat.
Bring Jazz back to people and reach wider audiences
GYS’s free-to-all Yardbird Jam program will bring Jazz back to the people.
We have a great faith in the power of Jazz, which has been a synonym for NYC’s vibrant culture through many decades.
Jazz will encourage empathy, resilience and unity to guide us through these difficult times.