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Charlie Parker session details

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March 25, 1952 (12 items; TT = 25:42)
Unknown recording studio, New York NY
Commercial for Mercury
 Show chatter

Charlie Parker (as); Jimmy Maxwell (tpt); Carl Poole (tpt); Al Porcino (tpt); Bernie Privin (tpt); Bill Harris (tb); Lou McGarity (tb); Bart Varsalona (tb); Harry Terrill (as); Murray Williams (as); Flip Phillips [Joseph Filipelli] (ts); Hank Ross (ts); Danny Bank (bs); Oscar Peterson (p); Freddie Green (g); Ray Brown (b); Don Lamond (d); Joe Lipman (arr, cond)
1 Night and Day (take 3) (C. Porter) 2:55
2 Night and Day (take 4) (C. Porter) 3:00
3 Night and Day (take 5) (C. Porter) 2:48
4 Almost Like Being in Love (take 1) (A.J. Lerner-F. Loewe) 2:32
5 Almost Like Being in Love (take 2 (fs)) (A.J. Lerner-F. Loewe) 0:25
6 Almost Like Being in Love (take 3 (inc)) (A.J. Lerner-F. Loewe) 0:55
7 Almost Like Being in Love (take 4) (A.J. Lerner-F. Loewe) 2:32
8 I Can't Get Started (V. Duke-I. Gershwin) 3:06
9 What is This Thing Called Love? (take 1 (inc)) (C. Porter) 1:17
10 What is This Thing Called Love? (take 2) (C. Porter) 2:16
11 What is This Thing Called Love? (take 3 (inc)) (C. Porter) 1:20
12 What is This Thing Called Love? (take 4) (C. Porter) 2:36

1 Night and Day (take 3)
CD: Verve B0024802

2 Night and Day (take 4)
CD: Verve B0024802

3 Night and Day (take 5)
78 rpm: Mercury/Clef 11096
45 rpm: Clef EPC 235
12" LP: Verve MGV 8003, Verve (J) 00MJ 3268/77
CD: Verve 837141 (Disc 7), Verve B0024802, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1340

4 Almost Like Being in Love (take 1)
CD: Verve B0024802

5 Almost Like Being in Love (take 2 (fs))
CD: Verve B0024802

6 Almost Like Being in Love (take 3 (inc))
CD: Verve B0024802

7 Almost Like Being in Love (take 4)
78 rpm: Mercury/Clef 11102
45 rpm: Clef EPC 235
12" LP: Verve MGV 8003, Verve (J) 00MJ 3268/77
CD: Verve 837141 (Disc 7), Verve B0024802, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1340

8 I Can't Get Started
78 rpm: Mercury/Clef 11096
45 rpm: Clef EPC 235
12" LP: Verve MGV 8003, Verve (J) 00MJ 3268/77
CD: Verve 837141 (Disc 7), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1340

9 What is This Thing Called Love? (take 1 (inc))
CD: Verve B0024802

10 What is This Thing Called Love? (take 2)
CD: Verve B0024802

11 What is This Thing Called Love? (take 3 (inc))
CD: Verve B0024802

12 What is This Thing Called Love? (take 4)
78 rpm: Mercury/Clef 11102
45 rpm: Clef EPC 235
12" LP: Verve MGV 8000, MGV 8003, Verve (J) 00MJ 3268/77
CD: Verve 837141 (Disc 7), Verve B0024802, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1340

Here we have a Parker-led big band without strings. Parker plays well throughout, especially on "Night and Day" and "What is This Thing Called Love?", although on early takes of the latter he has trouble with the changes. Peterson even gets some solo space on "Night and Day" and "I Can't Get Started." The tempo of "Almost Like Being in Love" is slow, and Parker sometimes doubles it in his phrasing in solos (e.g. take 3). Some of the accompaniments intrude on Parker's playing (e.g. during the closing chorus of "Night and Day"). The arrangements are busy and bombastic. Not for the faint of heart.

I'm grateful to Bruno Leicht for help with this session.

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