|
1942 |
Charlie
Parker Chronology |
|
|
|
Created
by Leif Bo Petersen |
Last
updated: August 1, 2024. |
|
Date |
Event |
References/Further Details |
|
January
3 |
Jay McShann’s Decca Recording Orchestra Probably: Buddy
Anderson, Orville Minor, Bob Merrill (tp); Lawrence Anderson, Joe Taswell
Baird (tb); Charlie Parker, John Jackson (as); Freddie Culliver, Bob Mabane
(ts); Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Bill
Nolan, Walter Brown, Al Hibbler? (voc). Tootie’s
Mayfair, Kansas City, MO. January
3–?. Dancing
9:30–3·30; 5-act Floor Show. |
Ad
in Kansas City Star, January 3,
1942, 3. Ad
in Kansas City Times, January 10,
1942, 13. |
|
January late |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Bob Merrill (tp); Lawrence
Anderson, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); Charlie Parker, John Jackson (as); Freddie
Culliver, Bob Mabane (ts); Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g); Gene Ramey (b);
Gus Johnson (d); Bill Nolan, Walter Brown, (voc). Jay McShann gets a 7-year contract with the Moe Gale Agency. The
deal was made with John B. Tumino, McShann's manager. |
“Gale
Grabs Jay McShann for Savoy,” Down Beat, February 1, 1942, 2: Gives a
tentative opening date at Savoy, New York, NY: February 14. It also gives the
personnel of the band. Al Hibbler is not listed here. |
|
January 30 |
Jay McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Trianon Ballroom, Oklahoma City, OK. 9 pm–1:30. |
Ad
in Black Dispatch January 31, 1941, 8. |
|
January 31 |
Jay McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Gay Parity, Parsons, KS. 8:30 pm. |
Ad
in Parsons Sun, January 30, 1942, 4: 15 colored artists. |
|
February
6 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Herman Walder Orchestra Paseo Tap Room, Kansas City, MO. |
“Jive Jot’s of the week,” Plaindealer,
February 13, 1942, 4: Heard McShann’s Orchestra at Paseo Tap Room on Friday,
(February 6): Al Hibler is mentioned. |
|
February
7 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Castle, St. Louis, MO. |
Ad in St. Louis Argus, February 6., 1942,
14. |
|
February
8 |
Jay McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra King Kolax Band Savoy
Ballroom, Chicago, IL. Band
Battle. |
Ad
in Chicago Defender, February 7,
1942, 9. “Jay
McShann, Recording Sensation, Battles Kolax at Savoy Sunday,” Chicago Defender, February 7, 1942,
10. |
|
February
13 |
Lucky Millinder Orchestra Closing February 19. Jay McShann and His Orchestra Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Bob Merrill (tp); Lawrence
Anderson, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); Charlie Parker, John Jackson (as); Freddie
Culliver, Bob Mabane (ts); Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g); Gene Ramey (b);
Gus Johnson (d); Bill Nolan, Walter Brown, Al Hibbler(voc). Savoy
Ballroom, New York, NY. February
13-20. Broadcasts: Blue
Network (in New York WJZ): Friday
midnight broadcast 12:05–12:30 am. Saturday
afternoon broadcast 5:30–6:00. Tuesday
midnight broadcast 12:05-12·30 am. WNEW: Sunday
afternoon broadcast 4:00–4:30 pm. |
“On
the Upbeat,” Variety, January 28,
1942, 38: Gives opening date February 13 for McShann. “Jive Jot’s of the week,” Plaindealer,
February 13, 1942, 4: Has Savoy opening February 13. Bill Nolan (voc) is in
the band. “Crowd
Golden Gate for Brooklyn Elks Anniversary Dance,” New York Age,
February 21, 1942, 4: Millinder played here Friday 20. “Orchestra
Routes,” Billboard, February 14,
1942, 26: Erskine Hawkins at Savoy February 20-26. “Orchestra
Routes,” Billboard, February 21,
1942, 24: Fitzgerald at the Apollo February 13-19, and at Savoy February
20-28. “Band
Routes,” Pittsburgh Courier,
February 14, 1942, 20: Erskine Hawkins at Savoy February 21, one week “McShann
Leads Fine Bands,” Metronome, March 1942, 12, 22: Very overwhelming
positive review. The complete personnel is given. Al Hibbler is listed. Bill
Nolan is not listed,. Gene
Ramey in S. Dance, The World of Count
Basie. (1980) 276-77. S.
Dance, The World of Count Basie.
(1980), 253. Gene
Ramey and Jay McShann remember a Sunday matinee Broadcast from Savoy Ballroom
the first Sunday. It ran overtime because of a long Charlie Parker
Cherokee-solo. Newspaper radio logs list Millinder for all broadcasts, but some
of them may have ended up as McShann broadcasts. The surviving broadcasts
form Friday February 13 features the McShann orchestra. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=420213 |
|
February
mid–May |
Jam sessions Minton’s
Playhouse, New York, NY. Monroe’s
Uptown House, New York, NY. Charlie
Parker is reported in sessions here. Private
lacquer (acetate) recordings from Monroe’s by Jerry Newman exists. |
Allen Tinney in I. Gitler, Swing
to Bop (1985), 75. Kenny Clarke in I. Gitler, Swing
to Bop (1985), 82. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=420000 |
|
March
7 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Harlem on Parade Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Bob Merrill (tp); Lawrence
Anderson, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); Charlie Parker, John Jackson (as); Freddie
Culliver, Roy (Buck) Douglas (ts); James Coe (as, bars); Jay McShann (p);
Lucky Enois (g); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter Brown, Al Hibbler
(voc). Stage show; dance, comedy, and vocals. Sunset
Auditorium, Indianapolis, IN. March
7-22. |
Ad
in Indianapolis Recorder, March 7, 1942, sec 2-5 “Band
Routes,” Pittsburgh Courier, March
21, 20: March 7–22. “Headlines
and Footlights,” People’s Voice, March 7, 1942, 30: Bill Nolan and Bob
Mabane left the band because they had been drafted. “James
Coe, Local Musician Joins Jay McShann’s Orchestra,” Indianapolis Recorder,
March 21, 1942, sec 2, 5: Coe joins after the closing of the Sunset
engagement. “Local reports: Local no. 3, Indianapolis, IN,” International
Musician, March 1942, 25: June report probably March and April events: Travelling members: Jay McShann
Orchestra. |
|
March
27 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Mills Brothers Nina May McKinney (voc) Hawley & Lee (comedy) Edward Sisters Paradise,
Detroit, MI. March
27–April 2. |
Ad
in Detroit Free Press, March 27,
1942, 9. “Mills Bros. at Paradise This Week,” Detroit
Times, March 1942, 7: Review. “Mills
Brothers at Paradise,” Detroit Free
Press, March 30, 1942, 11. Ad
in Detroit Free Press, April 2,
1942, 10: Tomorrow Lucky Millinder and Rosetta Tharpe. |
|
April
4 |
Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Closing April 4?. Doc
Wheeler’s Sunset Royal Orchestra April 5–? Jay McShann Orchestra April
4–16. Broadcasts: Blue
Network (in New York WJZ): Friday
midnight broadcast 12:05–12:30 am. Saturday
afternoon broadcast 5:30–6:00. Tuesday
midnight broadcast 12:05-12·30 am. |
“Jay McShann’s Ork Back to Savoy,” Down Beat, April 1,
1942, 2 “Orchestra
Routes,” Billboard, April 4, 1942,
24: Erskine Hawkins at Savoy (no dates). McShann at Savoy April 4–16. “Bands
on tour – Advance Dates,” Billboard,
April 4, 1942, 24: Erskine Hawkins on tour in the South from April 6. Ad
in Peoples Voice, April 4, 1942, 28: Jay McShann Orchestra and Sunset
Royal Orchestra on April 5. Gene
Ramey in S. Dance, The World of Count Basie (1980), 277: During this
engagement Parker and Brown were fighting onstage. Parker was fired. Newspaper radio logs list McShann for the broadcasts from April
7. None of these have survived. |
|
April
early |
Jam sessions Monroe’s,
New York, NY. Early
April–May? Parker
is working at Monroe’s without regular payment in the interim before he gets
back to McShann- |
Gene
Ramey in S. Dance, The World of Count
Basie (1980), 277. Allen
Tinney in I. Gitler, Swing to Bop (1985), 80. |
|
April
17 |
Jay McShann and His Band and Singers Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Bob Merrill (tp); Lawrence
Anderson, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson (as); Freddie Culliver, Roy
(Buck) Douglas (ts); James Coe (as, bars); Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g);
Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter Brown, Al Hibbler (voc). 4 Kings and a Queen Conway & Parks (Dance,
song) “Pigmeat” (Comedian) Arnault Family (Violin
comedy) Willie Dee (Magician) “Wolf Man” Apollo
Theater, New York, NY. April
17-23. Charlie
Parker was out of the band here. The band’s baritone saxophonist, Jimmy Coe
played his alto-solos. |
Ad
in New York Age, April 18, 1942,
10. “House
Reviews: Apollo,” Variety, April
22, 1942: 49: “McShann Scoring Big Hit in Eastern
Appearance,” New York Amsterdam News,
April 25, 1942, 16: Gives the personnel of the band. Charlie Parker is not
included. R. L. Campbell: The Jimmy Coe Discography. http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~campber/coe.html “At age 20 Jimmy Coe was already touring with the
Jay McShann band, which he probably joined toward the end of 1941… He even
had the unenviable task of briefly replacing Charlie Parker on alto saxophone
(when the McShann band played the Apollo in New York City, April 1942). Coe
always said later that Charlie Parker was in the audience— he fell
asleep—while he soloed on alto for the first time during a performance! Coe
played alto alongside John Jackson for a little while, but while Charlie
Parker was in the band his instrument was baritone sax.” |
|
April
24 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Royal
Theatre, Baltimore, MD. April
24-30, 1942. Not
realized. |
“Orchestra
Routes,” Billboard, April 25, 1942,
24. Ad in Baltimore Afro-American, April 25, 1942, 15: Has
Andy Kirk at the Royal. |
|
May
1 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Howard
Theater, Washington, DC. May
1–7. Not
realized. |
“Jay
McShann’s Ork Back to Savoy,” Down Beat, April 1, 1942, 2. Ad
in Washington Aro-American, May 2, 1942, 16 : Has Les Hite at Howard
this week. |
|
May
3 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Marine Barracks, Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York, NY. USO (prod). |
“Jump
Bands to Play under USO Placement,” Baltimore Afro-American, May 2,
1952, 15. |
|
May
8 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Eltinge
Theatre, New York, NY. May
8-14. |
“Orchestra Routes,” Billboard, May 9, 1942,
26. |
|
May
17 |
Erskine Hawkins Orchestra May 11–31. Jay McShann Orchestra May
15–30. Broadcasts:
Blue Network ( in New York WJZ): Tuesday
midnight broadcast: 12:05–12:30 am. Friday
midnight broadcast: 12:05–12:30 am. Saturday
afternoon broadcast: 5:30–6:00 pm. |
“Orchestra Routes,” Billboard,
May 16, 1942: 32: Erskine Hawkins Savoy 11-31. McShann at Savoy May 15–30. Ad in People’s Voice, May 16, 192, 28: Erskine Howkins
and Jay McShann April 17. “Orchestra Routes,” Billboard,
May 23, 1942: 24: Erskine Hawkins Savoy 11-31. McShann at Savoy May 15–30. Newspaper radio logs list Hawkins for the broadcasts. None of these have survived. |
|
May
31 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Memorial
Auditorium, Dayton, OH. |
“Bands on Tour – Advance Dates,” Billboard, May 30, 1942, 24. |
|
June
early |
Jay McShann Orchestra Canton,
OH. This
may alternatively belong to August. |
C. Woideck, Charlie
Parker. His Music and Life (1996), 24, 247 note 91; Al Hibbler tells an
episode from here. |
|
June
6 |
Jay McShann Orchestra New
Allen Ballroom, Dayton, OH. |
“Orchestra
Routes,” Billboard, June 6, 1942,
24. “Band Routes,” Pittsburgh
Courier, June 6, 1942, 21. |
|
June
7 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Bob Merrill (tp); Lawrence
Anderson, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); Charlie Parker, John Jackson (as); Freddie
Culliver, Bob Mabane (ts); James Coe (bars, arr); Jay McShann (p); Lucky
Enois (g); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter Brown, Al Hibbler (voc);
Shay Torrent, Skippy Hall (arr). Savoy
Ballroom, Chicago, IL. |
“Band
Routes,” Pittsburgh Courier, June
6, 1942, 21: Gives date as June 14. This
date was changed to June 7: Ad
in Chicago Defender, June 6, 1942,
24: “Dancing June 7 Jay McShann and His Orchestra direct from their smash
success in New York.” “Decca
Is Fooling the Public, Is Wail po Jazz Critic,” Down Beat, July 1,
1942, 4: review with complete personnel. Has Bob Mabane (ts). |
|
June
12 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Regal
Theatre, Chicago, IL. June
12–18, 1942. Not
realized. |
“Where
the band Are Playing,” Down Beat, June 1, 1942, 22; Regal, June 12. Ads
in Chicago Defender, June 12, 1942, 19 and June 17, 1942, 16: Have
Tiny Bradshaw at the Regal. |
|
June
28 |
Lucky Millinder Orchestra Closing June 30. Jay McShann Orchestra Savoy Ballroom, New York, NY. Probably only July 28. June 28: WNEW broadcast 5:30—6:00 p.m.: Jay McShann. June 29: Blue
Network (WJZ) Sunday midnight broadcast: 12:05–12:30 am: Jay McShann
Orchestra. |
“Orchestra Routes,” Billboard,
June 20, 1942: 24: Millinder at Savoy June 20—30. Erskine Hawkins at Savoy
June 1—30. Ad in New York Age, June 27, 2942, 10: Erskine Hawkins at
Savoy June 26–July 2 Apart from the review below and the broadcast in the radio logs,
I have found no further documentation for a McShann engagement at the Savoy
June late. “The Week’s Radio programs: Today Sunday, June 28, 1942,” New York Times, June 28, 1942, ?:
WNEW: 5:30: News-Music. “On the Air: Jay McShann,” Billboard,
July 11, 1942, 20: Review: WNEW: Sunday, June 28, 5:30—6 p.m. “Sunday Programs,” New York Sun, June 27, 1942, 10: WJZ.
12:05—12:30 a.m.: Jay McShann. |
|
July
2 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Bob Merrill (tp); Lawrence
Anderson, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); Charlie Parker, John Jackson (as); Freddie
Culliver, Bob Mabane (ts); James Coe (bars); Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois
(g); Gene Ramey (b); Doc West (dr); Walter Brown, Al Hibbler (voc). Decca
Studio, New York, NY. Commercial
recordings for Decca. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=420702 Bob Mabane is usually listed for this session, so he must have
returned to the band. |
|
July
3 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Nu-Elm
Ballroom, Youngstown, OH. The
band bus burns up on the road to Youngstown. The gig is cancelled. |
“Band Routes,” Pittsburgh Courier,
June 27, 1942, 21. “Jay McShann’s Bus Burns Up,” Plaindealer (Kansas City, KS), July 17, 1942, 1. The band’s one-nighters in the following days may also have been
cancelled. |
|
July
4 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Soho
Community Center, Pittsburgh, PA. |
“Band
Routes,” Pittsburgh Courier, June
27, 1942, 21. |
|
July
5 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Cotton Club, Cincinnati, OH. Opening July 5, 1942. |
“Band
Routes,” Pittsburgh Courier, June
27, 1942, 21. |
|
July
10 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Castle Ballroom, St. Louis, MO. |
“Jay
McShann Castle July 10,” Kansas City Call, July 3, 1942, 14. |
|
July
11 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Recreation
Center, DeWitt, IA. |
“Band
Routes,” Pittsburgh Courier, June
27, 1942, 21. |
|
July
13 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Joyland,
Moberly, MO. |
”Will
Be at Joyland Monday Night, July 13th,” Kansas City Call,
July 10, 1942, 7. |
|
July
18 |
Jay McShann Orchestra King’s
Ballroom, Lincoln, NE. July
18–August 2, 1942. |
“Count
Basie Precedes Jay McShann at Kings,”
Lincoln Star, July 12, 1942, D6: McShann opens July 18. Ad
in Lincoln Star, July 18, 1942, 2. Ad
in Lincoln Star, July 25, 1942, 2:
Held over for a second week. Ad
in Lincoln Star, August 2, 1942,
D6: Last night. |
|
July
27 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Dreamland, Omaha, NE. |
“Appearing
with McShann Monday,” Omaha Star, July 24, 1941, 1. |
|
August
5 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Silver
Moon Ballroom, Wichita, KS |
Ad
in Kansas City Call, August 31, 1942, 17 (nat. ed). |
|
August
6 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Oklahoma City, OK. |
“Jimmy
Says,” Black Dispatch, August 8, 1942, 5. |
|
August
8 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Fort
Worth, TX. |
“Band
Routes,” Pittsburgh Courier, August
1, 1942, 21. |
|
August
9 |
Jay McShann Orchestra City
Auditorium, Dallas, TX. |
“Band
Routes,” Pittsburgh Courier, August
1, 1942, 21. |
|
August
10 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Probably: Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Bob Merrill
(tp); Lawrence Anderson, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); Charlie Parker, John Jackson
(as); Freddie Culliver, Bob Mabane (ts); James Coe (bars) Jay
McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (dr); Walter Brown,
Al Hibbler (voc). Library Auditorium, San Antonio, TX 9:00 pm. Fisher-Tease (prod). |
Ad in San Antonio Register,
August 7, 1942, 7. "Southwest Texas Awaits Hibbler, McShann,
Mon.," San Antonio Register, August 7, 1942, 6. “Local reports: Local no. 22, San Antonio, TX,” International
Musician, October 1942, 21–22:
October report probably referring August and September events: Travelling members: Jay McShann,
John Jackson, B. Anderson, Orville Minor, Eugene Ramey, Joe Baird, Gus
Johnson, R. Mabane, Freddy Culliver, Lawrence Anderson, (627); Robert Merrell (558); James Coe
(627). |
|
August
13 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Cotton
Club, Port Arthur, TX. |
“Orchestra Routes,” Billboard,
August 15, 1942, 24. |
|
August
14 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Temple
Roof Garden, Baton Rouge, LA. |
“Orchestra Routes,” Billboard,
August 15, 1942, 24. |
|
August
15 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Rhythm
Club, New Orleans, LA. |
“Orchestra Routes,” Billboard,
August 15, 1942, 24. |
|
August
17 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Rankin County Auditorium, Jackson, MS. Benefit Dance. |
“Up and Down Farish Street,” Jackson Advocate,
August 22, 1942, 3. |
|
August
19 |
Jay McShann Orchestra City
Auditorium, Atlanta, GA. |
Ad in Atlanta Constitutional, August 16,
1942, 9D. “Jay McShann &
Orchestra to Have ‘Cats’ A-Jumpin’,
Atlanta Daily World, August 14, 1942, 3. |
|
August
21 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Auditorium,
Columbus, OH. |
“Orchestra
Routes,” Billboard, August 15,
1942, 24. |
|
August
22 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Memorial
Auditorium, Dayton, OH. |
Orchestra
Routes,” Billboard, August 22,
1942, 23. |
|
August
28 |
Berry Bros. Jay McShann and His Orchestra Ziggy Johnson and 10 Dancing Beauties Lee & Basquette Regal Theater, Chicago, IL. August 28—September 3, 1942. |
Ad in Chicago Tribune, August 28, 1942, 24. |
|
September
early |
Jay McShann Orchestra DeLuxe Club, Chicago, IL. |
“McShann Is ‘Hot’ in Chicago,” Kansas City Call,
September 18, 1942, 14: opened last week. |
|
September
18 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Probably: Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Bob Merrill (tp);
Lawrence Anderson, Joe Taswell Baird, Clyde Bernhardt (tb); Charlie Parker,
Joe Evans (as); Freddie Culliver, Jimmy Forrest (ts); Albert McCain (bars);
Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter
Brown, Al Hibbler (voc). September
18?–October15?. Tiny Bradshaw Orchestra September
18-27. Sabby Lewis September late–October 10 Savoy
Ballroom, New York, NY. October
2: Jay McShann Orchestra Savoy Sultans? Savoy
Ballroom, New York, NY. Autumn
Dance sponsored by the Benedict College Club of New York City. |
Clyde Bernhardt interviewed by
Phil Schaap, WKCR, has related that he rehearsed with the McShann Orchestra
at the Savoy in New York on September 7, and that he played in public there
with the band from September 8. These dates do not seem reliable. “Benedict College Club Sponsors
Fall Dance,” New York Age,
September 26, 1942, 5: October 2. Music by Jay McShann and Savoy Orchestra. “Bands on Tour -Advance Dates,” Billboard, September 12, 1942, 24: Bradshaw at Savoy September
18–30. Ad in Hartford Courant, September 28, 1942, 7: Tine
Bradshaw at State Theater September 28–30. “Sweet and Low-Down,” Boston Herald, October 14, 1942,
24: Sabby Lewis opened at the Savoy, Boston, on October 11, coming from
engagement at Savoy, New York, NY. “G-Men with Us again,” New York Age, October 10, 1942, 4:
Music by McShann and Sabby Lewis: Prom ball at Savoy October 16. Actually
both bands very out of Savoy on this date. “Durham All-Girl band Taken over by Gale,” People’s Voice,
October 10, 1942, 26: open at Savoy October 16. A. McCarthy, Big Band Jazz
(1974), 152: partly personnel for the last part of the year is listed with
Joe Evans as source. Jimmy Forrest in R. Reisner: Bird: The Legend of
Charlie Parker (1962), 92: Forrest tells of being in the band, while it
was playing at the Savoy. Howard McGhee in R. Reisner, Bird: The
Legend of Charlie Parker (1962), 143: McGhee playing with Charlie
Barnet at the Adams Theatre, Newark, NJ., listens to a Sunday afternoon
broadcast having Parker soloing on Cherokee.
Later he goes to Savoy to meet Parker. Howard McGhee in I. Gitler, Swing
to Bop (1985), 71–72: Tells same story. “Orchestra
Routes, ”Billboard, October 10, 24,
1942, 24: Barnet at Adams, Newark, October 8-14. “Variety Bills,” Variety, October 7, 1942, 80: Barnet
opening at Adams, Newark on October 9. “Variety Bills,” Variety, October 14, 1942, 80: Sammy Kaye opening at Adams,
Newark on October 16. I
have not been able to verify a Savoy broadcast on Sunday, October 11. I
have also not been able to verify Blue Network broadcasts from Savoy in this
period. |
|
October
16 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Ella Fitzgerald and Four Keys Howard
Theater, Washington, D.C. October
16-22, 1942 Hines
came to Washington to hear the band and to recruit some of McShann’s
musicians, including Charlie Parker. |
Ad
in Washington Afro-American, October 17, 1942, 20. Jay
McShann in: S. Dance, The World of
Count Basie. (1980), 247. Earl
Hines cannot be verified in Washington in this period, but according to the
band itinerary, there was room for a visit there between October 15 and 23. Ad in New York Amsterdam
News, October 10, 1942, 17: Hines at the Apollo, New York, October 9-15. Ad in Detroit Free Press,
October 22, 1942, 8: Hines opening Friday (23) at Paradise, Detroit. Ad in Detroit Free Press,
October 29, 1942, 10: Last day for Hines at Paradise, Detroit. |
|
October
26 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Unidentified
venue, Baltimore, MD. Monday
one-night dance. |
“Jay
McShann Band Plays Baltimore,” Baltimore
Afro-American, October 20, 1942, 10: Monday one-nighter in Baltimore
after the Howard gig. |
|
October
late |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Release of Decca 4387 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded July 2, 1942. Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Decca 4387 A Lonely Boy Blues Decca 4387 B Sepian Bounce |
“The Week’s Records: Popular,” Billboard,
October 31. 1942, 25: released October 21-27. “Record Reviews: Swing,” Down Beat, November
15, 1942, 9: Not very positive, except for the alto sax contributions. |
|
October
30 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Including Walter Brown (voc) Walter Richardson (voc) Three Peter Sisters Buck and Bubbles Paradise Theater, Detroit, MI. October 30—November 5, 1942. During this engagement Charlie Parker had an OD and
was unable to proceed with McShann, who made Andy Kirk give Parker a lift to
New York. |
"Buck and Bubbles on Coming
Paradise Bill," Detroit Free Press, October 29, 10. Ad in Detroit Free Press, October
30, 11. “Night Clubs - Vaudeville: Paradise,
Detroit,” Billboard, November 13, 1942, 16: Review on October 30. Jay McShann in R. Reisner, Bird: The
Legend of Charlie Parke (1962), 150. “Jumpin’ Jive,” Detroit Tribune, November 7,
1942, 13: Andy Kirk at Mirror Ballroom November 5. |
|
November |
Charlie Parker Having left
McShann Parker settles in New York. He is without regular jobs. |
R. Russell: Bird Lives, (1988), 137. |
|
December
mid |
Earl Hines Orchestra Probably: Gail Brockman, Shorty McConnell, Little Benny Harris,
Dizzy Gillespie (tp); Gus Chappell, Bennie Green, Howard Scott (tb); Scoops
Carey, Goon Gardner (as); Thomas Crump, Charlie Parker (ts); John Williams (bar);
Earl Hines (p); Connie Wainwright (g); Jesse Simpkins (b); Shadow Wilson (d);
Julia Gardner (accordion, voc); Julia Gardner (accordion, voc); Madeline
Green, Billy Eckstine (voc). Earl Hines’ Orchestra is rehearsing in New York. Hines goes to
Minton’s and listens to Parker jamming. He hires Parker for the second
tenor-sax chair replacing Budd Johnson. |
Budd
Johnson in S. Dance, The World Of Earl
Hines (1977), 214. Earl
Hines in S. Dance, The World Of Earl
Hines (1977), 89: Hines recruited Parker at Minton’s . Billy
Eckstine in R. Reisner, Bird: The
Legend of Charlie Parker (1962), 84-85. F.
Driggs and H. Levine, Black Beauty,
White Heat (1996), 318: Photo of part of the orchestra: Shorty McConnell,
Gail Brockman, Benny Harris, Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Gus Chappell, Benny Green
(tb), Scoops Carey, Goon Gardner (as), Earl Hines (p), Huey Long (g), Shadow
Wilson (dr). Location unidentified. Not Apollo as stated by Driggs and
Levine. |
|
December
25 |
Uncle
Sam Christmas Tree of Spotlight Bands Blue
Network program 9 am–9 pm PWT. Direct
from Military camps and bases 43
orchestras. 01:45–2:00
pm PWT: Earl
Hines Orchestra New
London, CT. |
“News and Views of Radio,: Spotlight Bands” Sacramento Bee, December 24, 1942, 12. “Today’s Dial Log,” Santa Barbara News-Press, December
24, 11. “Airglances,” Des Moines Register, December 25, 1942, 2. In
an email to Lewis Porter Brad Kay has told that he heard this broadcast
belonging to Richard Hite’s collection in February 1971. It had solos of
Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Unfortunately the disc was destroyed in
the California earthquake soon after. |
|
December
25 |
Earl Hines and his Great New Orchestra Possibly: Gail Brockman,
Shorty McConnell, Little Benny Harris, Dizzy Gillespie (tp); Gus Chappell, Bennie
Green, Howard Scott (tb); Scoops Carey, Goon Gardner (as); Thomas Crump,
Charlie Parker (ts); John Williams (bar); Earl Hines (p); Connie Wainwright
(g); Jesse Simpkins (b); Shadow Wilson (d); Julia Gardner (accordion, voc);
Sarah Vaughan (voc, p); Julia Gardner (accordion, voc); Madeline Green, Billy
Eckstine (voc). Savoy Sultans Golden
Gate Ballroom, New York, NY. Xmas
Day and Nite. |
Ad in New York Amsterdam
News, December 19, 1942, 15: Earl Hines and his Great New Orchestra incl. Madeline Green, and Billy
Eckstine. |
|
December
31 |
Earl Hines Orchestra Grand Ballroom, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, NY. Victory Lodge (prod). New Year’s Eve Ball. |
“Hines for Victory Party,” Billboard,
October 24, 1942, 66. |