1950 |
Charlie
Parker Chronology |
|
|
Created
by Leif Bo Petersen |
Last
update: December 15, 2024. |
Date |
Event |
References/Further Details |
January |
Charlie Parker Release of Dial 1024 and Dial 1032 10” 78 rpm. records. Recorded October 28, 1947. Charlie Parker Quintet Reissue with alternative takes Dial 1024-A Bongo Bop Charlie Parker Dial 1024-B Embraceable You Recorded December 17, 1947. Charlie Parker Dial 1032-A Bird of Paradise Charlie Parker Quintet Dial 1032-A Dexterity |
“Advance Record Releases: Hot Jazz,” Billboard, January 14,
1950, 94. “Diggin’ the Discs with Mix: Combo Jazz,” Down
Beat, January 27, 1950, 14: Dial 1032: Both sides: 3 notes (tasty). |
January |
Metronome All Stars 1949 Poll Alto sax 1. Charlie Parker 2. Lee Konitz 3. Johnny Hodges |
“Votes and Places,”
Metronome, January 1950, 24–25, 28, 30–31. |
January
early |
A Journey Through Jazz Charlie Parker Quintet Red Rodney (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter
(b); Roy Haynes (d). Lester Young Quartet Lester Young (ts); Dick Hyman (p); Irv Lang (b); Jo Jones (d). Hot Lips Page & Max Kaminsky Dixieland Band Max Kaminsky (tp), Munn Ware (tb), Sol Yaged (cl), Dick Hyman
(p); Irv Lang (b); George Wettling (d). Stan Getz Quartet Stan Getz (ts); Dick Hyman (p); Tommy Potter (b); Roy Haynes
(d). Lennie Tristano Sextet Lee Konitz (as); Warne Marsh (ts); Lennie Tristano (p); Billy
Bauer (g); Joe Shulman (b); Jeff Morton (d). Harry Belafonte (voc) acc. by Dick Hyman (p). Birdland, New York, NY. Continued from December 15. Closing January 4. Birdland opening show.
William B. Williams (mc) |
“New Birds,” Daily News, January 4, 1950, 69:
Opening tomorrow: Lester Young, Miles Davis, Bud Powell, and vocalist Junior
Parker. |
January
9 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Red Rodney (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter
(b); Roy Haynes (d). 421 Club, Philadelphia, PA. January 9–29. |
“Music
as Written,” Billboard, January 21,
1950, 41: Parker takes over. No dates. Illinois Jacquet opens at 421 Club on
January 30. “Strictly Ad Lib,” Down Beat, January 13, 1950, 12:
Parker in at 421 Club on January 9. |
February
early |
Charlie Parker with Strings Release of Charlie
Parker with Strings Mercury C-101: 3 10” 78 rpm. records album Mercury
MG-C-101: 10” LP edition Recorded November 30, 1949. Charlie Parker with Strings Mercury 11036 A Just Friends Mercury 11036 B Everything Happens to Me Mercury 11037 A April in Paris Mercury 11037 B If I Should Lose You Mercury 11038 A I Don’t Know What Time It Was Mercury 11038 B Summertime |
Diggin’ the Discs with Mix: Combo Jazz,” Down Beat, February
10, 1950, 14: Rating: Just Friends, Everything Happens to Me,
and If I Should Lose You: 4 notes (tops); I Didn’t Know What Time It Was. April
in Paris, and Summertime: 3 notes (tasty). “Advance Record Releases: Hot Jazz,” Billboard, April 1, 1950,
42: 3 10" album. “Album and LP Records Reviews,” Billboard, April 1, 1950, 44:
Positive review of 3 records album. Rating: 75 (good) “The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Retail Record Sales: Pop
Albums,” Billboard, June
10, 1950, 24: Charlie Parker with Strings 3 records album: no. 9. “Record Reviews,” Metronome August 1950, 30: Album rating: B- (fairly
good). Mostly negative comments, except for Just Friends. |
February
2 |
Charlie Parker Sextet Red Rodney (tp); J. J. Johnson (tb); Charlie Parker (as); Al
Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Roy Haynes (d). Gene Ammons/Bobby Hackett Bobby Hackett (tp); Gene Ammons (ts); Dick Hyman (p); Irv Lang
(b); Jo Jones (d). Florence Wright Mr. Google Eyes Birdland, New York, NY. February 2-15. February 14: Private tape audience recordings of the Parker Sextet by Jimmy
Knepper and Don Lanphere exist. |
“Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, February 4, 1950, 7: Opening February 2: Charlie
Parker, Hackett, and Wynonie Harris. Ad in New York Age, February
4, 1950, 7: Wynonie Harris not mentioned on the bill. Instead, it has
Florence Wright and Mr. Google Eyes. “Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, February 11, 1950, 7: Bobby Hackett’s Quartet with
Dick Hyman, Charlie Parker with J. J. Johnson. New show opening on Thursday
February 16. Claes Dahlgreen, “Nytt Från New York,” Orkester Journalen, March 1950, 11. “Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, February 18, 1950, 7: Opening February 16: Parker
(held over), Fitzgerald, Bud Powell Trio, and Stan Getz. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500214 |
February
13 |
Benefit Memorial for Buddy Stewart Dizzy Gillespie, J. J. Johnson, Tony Scott, Charlie Parker, Lester
Young, John Coltrane, Charlie Ventura, Stan Getz, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Lennie
Tristano, Billy Byers, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte, and others. Birdland, New York, NY. |
“Talent by the Carload at Stewart Benefit.” Down Beat, March 24, 1950, 3: …”: Held at Birdland on a recent
Monday night.” Claes Dahlgreen, “Nytt Från New York,” Orkester Journalen, April 1950, 13. “Little Old New York,” Oil
City Derrick (PA.), February 17, 1950, 10: The Stewart benefit gave
$1,500. |
February
16 |
Charlie Parker Sextet Red Rodney (tp); J. J. Johnson (tb); Charlie Parker (as); Al
Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Roy Haynes (d). Replaced by Miles
Davis and his Sextet
Miles
Davis (tp); J.J. Johnson (tb); Stan Getz (ts); Tadd Dameron (p); Gene Ramey
(b); Art Blakey (d). Ella Fitzgerald (voc) acc. by Ray Brown Trio Hank Jones (p); Ray Brown (b); Unidentified (d). Bud Powell Trio Bud Powell (p): Curly Russell (b); Max Roach (d). Stan Getz Birdland, New York, NY. February 16-March 2. |
“Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, February 18, 1950, 7: Opening February 16: Parker
(held over), Fitzgerald, Bud Powell Trio, and Stan Getz. Ad in New York Age,
February 25, 1950, 23: Miles Davis Sextet, including Stan Getz, has replaced
Charlie Parker Quintet. |
February
18 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Red Rodney (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter
(b): Roy Haynes (d). Saint Nicholas Arena, New York, NY. Private recordings by Don Lanphere exist. Chan Parker [Richardson] and Charlie Parker are seen together in
public here. |
K. Vail, Bird’s Diary
(1996), 71: No source is given. February 18 was a Saturday, so it may have been a matinee. If
not, Parker must have ended his Birdland gig before this appearance. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500218b |
February
21 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Probably:
Red Rodney
(tp); Charlie Parker (as); Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b): Roy Haynes (d). Unidentified band Fall River Casino, Fall River, RI. February 21, 1950. 10–4 a.m. Holiday Eve Dance. |
Ad in Providence Journal, February 20, 1950, 7: 2 bands; featuring
Charlie Parker. |
March
11 |
Charlie Parker Quintet? Waukegan,
North Chicago, IL. |
“Parker’s
Mood,” Down Beat, April 21, 10: Reader’s
letter commenting on this gig. Parker was late and did not play much. It
sounds as if Parker’s band did not show up for the whole gig. |
March
mid/ late |
Jam session Probably Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Tony Scott
(cl); unidentified (ts); Mundell Lowe (g): Dick Hyman (p); Irv Lang? (b); Irv
Kluger? (d). Café Society, New York, NY. Probably in March before March 22. Private tape recordings by Bill Hirsch exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500322 https://www.jazzwax.com/2010/01/interview-dick-hyman-part-1.html https://www.JazzWax.com/2010/01/interview-dick-hyman-part-2.html Dick Hyman has told about this jam in many
interviews. He consistently states that this jam happened during a Tony Scott
gig at Café Society in 1950. He mentions Irv Lang (b) and Irv Kluger (d) as
the possible members of Scott’s rhythm group. Mundell Lowe was a sitter-in as
well as Parker and the trumpeter. Boris Rose has stated that the latter is
Fats Navarro, but to my ears he sounds more like Kenny Dorham. The Tony Scott Quartet was booked into Café Society
from February 23–March 22 (“Goings on About Town: Café Society,” New
Yorker, February 25, 1950, 4, and “Goings on About Town: Café Society,” New
Yorker, March 11, 1950, 4). Dick Hyman was in Europe with Benny Goodman,
leaving US on April 17 for a 6-week tour (“Goodman leaves for Denmark,” New
York Times, April 18, 1950). On one occasion, Hyman stated that he subbed for Bud
Powell at Birdland shortly after the jam event under discussion, there
accompanying Charlie Parker. This points to a date in March 1950. Bud Powell
had opened at Birdland on March 16 as a soloist and continued with a trio
accompanying Charlie Parker from March 23. The band at Tony Scott’s Café Society gig was a
quartet of Scott, Hyman, bass, and drums. Reviews show Tony Scott as playing
both clarinet and tenor sax in the gig opening February 23 (Night Club
Reviews: Café Society, New York,” Billboard, March 11, 1950, 54, and “Night
Club Reviews,” Variety, March 1, 1950, 48), but on the Lover Come Back track from this jam
session there is an overlap between ts and cl, showing that it is not Scot
who plays the tenor solo here. The recordings can be found in Boris Rose’s Birdland
Book in connection with material recorded in 1950. In 1991 and 1993 telephone interviews with Don
Manning Boris Rose said that his associate, Bill Hirsch, made the recordings.
Rose gives the following scenario (a transcription is located at IJS, Rutgers
University, NJ): Hirsch who was a cripple went to Birdland with a heavy Ampex
tape recorder, which Rose had provided him with. He was denied recording there,
and Charlie Parker, who was present, helped him out with the recorder and
took him to Café Society where he succeeded in recording. In an email correspondence with me (November 2013)
Dick Hyman has stated that the facts presented here “seem quite accurate,”
except that he doesn’t remember Scott playing tenor sax at the Café Society
gig. He recalls Scott doubling on tenor and baritone saxophone on other
occasions. |
March
23 |
Wynonie Harris (voc) Mabel Scott (voc) Charlie Parker acc. by Bud Powell Trio Bud Powell (p); Curly Russell (b); Max Roach (d). All Stars Sonny Stitt (as); Gene Ammons; Stan Getz (ts); Milt Buckner (p);
unidentified (b); Jo Jones (d). Birdland, New York, NY. Probably March 23–April 1. |
Ad in New York Amsterdam
News, March 25, 1950, 27. Claes Dahlgreen: Nytt Fran New York,” Orkester Journalen April 1950, 12. Gives personnel of Bud Powell
Trio. “Milt Buckner Band Stays at Birdland,” New York Age, April 22, 1950, 14. |
March
30 |
Gene Roland Orchestra Marty Bell, Don Ferrera, Don Joseph, Jon Nielson, Al Porcino,
Sonny Rich, Red Rodney, Neil Friez (tp); Frank Orchard (vtb); Eddie Bert,
Porky Cohen, Jimmy Knepper, Paul Selden (tb); Joe Maini, Charlie Parker (as);
Al Cohn, Don Lanphere, Tommy Mackagon, Zoot Sims (ts); Bob Newman, Marty Flax
(bars); Harry Biss (p); Sam Herman (g); Buddy Jones (b); Freddie Gruber (d);
Gene Roland (arr, dir). Nola’s Studio, Broadway, New York City Rehearsal. |
Bob Newman in R. Reisner, Bird:
The Legend of Charlie Parker (1962), 154-55: Newman tells about the Gene
Roland Orchestra, dating 1949. It was supposed to open at the Adams Theatre,
Newark, but this venue was too small, so it was cancelled. The orchestra
existed for 2 weeks. K. Vail, Bird’s Diary
(1996), 72-73: Photos by Eddie Bert. |
April |
Charlie Parker Release of Dial 1040. 10” 78. rpm. record. Charlie Parker Quintet Recorded November 4, 1947 Dial 1040-A Klactoveedsedstene Recorded December 17, 1947. Dial 1040-B Charlie’s Wig |
“Record Reviews,” Metronome, May 1950, 43: Both sides: B-
(fairly good). Review with many reservations “Record Reviews: Hot Jazz,” Billboard, June 17, 1950,
121: Overall rating: Klactoveedstedstene: 69 (satisfactory); Charlie’s
Wig: 71 (good). “Diggin’ The Discs with Mix: Combo Jazz,” Down Beat, June
30, 1050, 14: Charlie’s Wig: 2 notes (tepid); Klactoveedstedstene: 3
notes (tasty). |
April |
Charlie Parker with Strings Birdland,
New York, NY. Plans
of presenting Parker with Strings at Birdland are not realized. |
“Bird,
Backed by Strings, Disappoints at Birdland,” Down Beat, August 25, 1950, 4: This review tells that shortly
after the release of the Parker with Strings album plans were afoot to put
the Bird and strings into Birdland, but it fell through.” |
April? |
Jam session Unidentified (tp); Charlie Parker (as); unidentified (as);
unidentified (p); unidentified (b); Freddie Gruber (d). Unidentified venue, possibly Nola Studios, New York, NY. Private tape recordings. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500400 K. Vail, Bird’s Diary
(1996), 73: Freddie Gruber tells that many of the Gene Roland rehearsals
ended up with just the rhythm section with Parker playing and the guys
listening. These tracks may be from one of the Nola sessions of Gene
Roland. |
April
1 |
Wynonie Harris (voc) Charlie Parker acc. by Bud Powell Trio Bud Powell (p); Curly Russell (b); Max Roach (d). All Stars Sonny Stitt (as); Gene Ammons; Stan Getz (ts); Milt Buckner (p);
unidentified (b); Jo Jones (d). Birdland, New York, NY. April 1-6. |
“Jazz Show,” Daily News,
April 1, 1950, 17: opening tonight at Birdland: Wynonie Harris, Charlie
Parker, and Gene Ammons. “Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, April 1, 1950, 6: Wynonie Harris (closing April 7).
Bud Powell’s Trio (Charlie Parker sits in), and Gene Ammons band. |
April
3 |
Gene Roland Orchestra Marty Bell, Don Ferrera, Don Joseph, Jon Nielson, Al Porcino,
Sonny Rich, Red Rodney, Neil Friez (tp); Frank Orchard (vtb); Eddie Bert,
Porky Cohen, Jimmy Knepper, Paul Selden (tb); Joe Maini, Charlie Parker (as);
Al Cohn, Don Lanphere, Tommy Mackagon, Zoot Sims (ts); Bob Newman, Marty Flax
(bs); Harry Biss (p); Sam Herman (g); Buddy Jones (b): Freddie Gruber (d);
Gene Roland (arr, dir). Nola’s Studio, Broadway, New York, NY. Rehearsal. Private tape recordings exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500403 Bob Newman in R. Reisner, Bird:
The Legend of Charlie Parker (1975), 154-55: Tells that tapes exist. |
April
7 |
The Orioles Savannah Churchill (voc) Charlie Parker acc. by Bud Powell Trio Probably: Bud Powell (p); Curly Russell (b); Max Roach (d). Georgie Auld and His Orchestra Birdland, New York, NY. April 7-9. Gala Easter Holiday Show. |
Ad in New York Amsterdam
News, April 8, 1950, 27. |
April
10 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Jimmy Knepper (tb); Charlie Parker (as); Elmo Hope (p); Tommy
Potter?(b); Roy Haynes (d). Showboat, Philadelphia, PA. Opening April 10, 1950. Tape recordings from this engagement are rumored to exist. |
“Music–As Written,” Billboard,
March 25, 1950, 47: Charlie Parker has been set for the Showboat,
Philadelphia, starting April 10. “Music–As Written,” Billboard,
April 22, 1950, 26: Charlie Parker taking a return trip to the Showboat.
Dizzy Gillespie took his place in the Club 421 band parade. Booklet to The Complete
Benedetti Recordings of Charlie Parker, Mosaic #129, 13: Photo of
Knepper, Haynes, and Parker at the Showboat in Philadelphia 1950. I think Elmo Hope is the pianist on the photo. K. Vail, Bird’s Diary
(1996), 105: Vail dates this photo November 1951, but an April 1950 dating
seems more plausible in the light of Rodney’s illness at that time. C. Haddix, Bird –The Life
and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 127 and 176, note 49: In a letter to
Ross Russell (Russell Collection Ransom Center) Rodney tells about an
appendicitis attack and hospitalization at his time. |
May
1 |
Charlie Parker Unidentified venue, New York, NY. Charlie Parker interviewed by Marshall Stearns and John Maher. Also present was Chan Parker [Richardson] and her daughter. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500501 The recorded interview appears in Boris Rose’s list. In a 1993 telephone interview with Don Manning Boris Rose has
related that he provided Marshal Stearns with a tape recorder. A transcription of the Manning interview is located at IJS,
Rutgers University, NJ. |
May
2 |
Concert Charlie Parker Orchestra George Shearing Quintet Slam Stewart Trio Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, PA. |
“Music–As Written,” Billboard,
April 15, 1950, 28. |
May
3 |
Concert Charlie Parker and His Orchestra George Shearing Quintet Slam Stewart Trio Beryl Booker (p); Slam Stewart (b);
unidentified (d). Stewart cancelled because of illness.
Substituted by: Deuces Wild Helen James (voc) acc. by Ray Lawson (p) Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA. 8:30 p.m. Presented by the Guardsmen of Pittsburgh. |
"Guardsmen Aim at SRO for Shearing,
Bird, Slam," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 30, 1950, 20. Ad in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
April 30, 1950, Sec. 5, 2. K. Vail (ed.), Charlie Parker &
Jazz Club Memorabilia (2007), 21: Handbill. 39: Jazz Concert program. "Local Scrappings," Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, May 5, 1950, 26. |
May
15? |
Jam session Fats Navarro (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Bud Powell; Walther
Bishop Jr. (p); Curley Russell, Tommy Potter? (b); Art Blakey, Roy Haynes?
(d); Little Jimmy Scott (voc). Birdland, New York, NY. Possibly May 15-16, around midnight. Tape recordings by Bill Hirsch exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500517 Boris Rose’s list dates most of this material May 17, but in a 1993
telephone interview with Don Manning Boris Rose said that the dating of the
material in this part of his list is rather arbitrary with the purpose of
concealing the real recording date (a transcription of this interview is
located at IJS, Rutgers University, NJ.): For further details see L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation -
The Music and Life of Theodore "Fats" Navarro (2009), 281,
284—90. |
May
19 |
Machito Orchestra Usually listed as Charlie Parker (as) and Howard McGhee (tp) as
soloists with the Machito Orchestra: Mario Bauza, Frank Davilla, Bob Woodlen
(tp); Gene Johnson, Fred Skerritt (as); Jose Madera, Frank Socolow (ts);
Leslie Johnakins (bs); René Hernandez (p); Robert Rodriguez (b); Jose Mangual
(d); Luis Miranda (cng); Ubaldo Nieto (timbales); Machito (maracas). Renaissance Ballroom, Harlem, New York, NY. Private tape recordings by Marshall Stearns exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500519b In Boris Rose's list these items are labeled "Afro-Cuban
Bop -FS.” The FS has been interpreted as Frank Socolow. In a 1993 telephone interview with Don Manning Boris Rose said
that he provided Marshall Stearns with a tape recorder and that Stearns made
these recordings. In discussion with Manning Rose cannot explain the FS and
sticks to the Parker identification of the alto sax soloist (a transcription
of the Manning interview is located at IJS, Rutgers University, NJ.). Listening to the recordings, I am pretty sure that it is not
Howard McGhee we hear soloing. I also severely doubt the presence of Charlie
Parker. |
May
20 |
Concert Charlie Parker Flip Philips Kenny Dorham Slam Stewart Trio Beryl Booker (p); Slam Stewart (b); unidentified (d). Masonic Temple, Norwich, CT. Sponsored by Downtown Community Association. Cancer Fund Benefit. |
Ad in Hartford Courant,
May 5, 1950, 4: Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, J. J. Johnson, and
Slam Stewart Trio. Sponsored by Downtown Community Association. Norwich. Ad in Hartford Courant,
May 19, 1950, 1: Charlie Parker, Slam Stewart Trio, Benny Green, Kenny
Dorham, and Beryl Booker. Sponsored by Downtown Community Association.
Norwich. Ad in Hartford Courant,
May 20, 1950, 8: Charlie Parker, Flip Philips, Slam Stewart Trio, Kenny
Dorham. Auspices DCA Fund Benefit. |
May
28 |
Jam Session Charlie
Parker (as); Jon Eardley, Norma Carson (tp); Jimmy Knepper (tb); Gers Yowell,
Bob Newman (ts); John Williams (p); Buddy Jones (b); Frank Isola, Phil Brown,
Buzzy Bridgeford (d). William
Henry Apartments, New York, NY. Private
wire recordings by Gers Yowell exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500528 |
May
29 |
Charlie Parker 422 E. 11th Street, New York, NY. Chan Parker [Richardson] and Charlie Parker start living
together at Parker's apartment. |
Chan Parker [Richardson], My
Life In E-Flat (1993). 30. Doris Sydnor in R. Reisner, Bird:
The Legend of Charlie Parker (1962) 174:
Parker and Chan move together in July 1950. |
June |
Jam session Jon
Nielson (tp); Jimmy Knepper (tb); Charlie Parker; Joe Maini (as); Don
Lanphere (ts); Al Haig (p); Buddy Jones (b); Frank Isola (d). William
Henry Apartments, New York, NY. Possibly
June. Private
wire recordings by Don Lanphere exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500600 Phil Schaap in Bird Flight
(WKCR) dates these recordings Sunday, January 7, 1951. No source given. |
June
5 |
Jam session Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Charlie Parker (as), and others. Birdland,
New York, NY. Monday
night jam session. |
L. Feather, "Seven Days of Bop," Melody Maker, July 1, 1950. This may have been a kind of rehearsal for the Following days’
recording session. |
June
6 |
Charlie Parker and His Orchestra Dizzy
Gillespie (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Thelonious Monk (p); Curly Russell (b);
Buddy Rich (d). Unidentified
studio, New York, NY. Commercial
recordings for Mercury Records. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500606 |
June
8 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Al Haig (p), Tommy
Potter (b); Roy Haynes (d). Art Tatum Cliff Jackson Jack Prince Lea Matthews Café Society Downtown, New York, NY. June 8–July 5. Undated private tape recordings probably by Bill Hirsch exist: Charlie Parker Quintet. Two of these tracks also include Tony
Scott in a jam session setting. |
“Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, June 3, 1950, 4: Tatum, Jack Prince, Parker, and
Cliff Jackson (intermission p) opening June 8. “Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, July 1, 1950, 4: Tatum, Prince, Parker, and Lea
Matthews closing July 5. “Night Club Reviews: Cafe Society,” Billboard, July 1, 1950: 40: Reviewed June 20. Art Tatum. Parker
Quintet. Jack Prince (voc), Lea Matthews (voc). “Bird,
Backed by Strings, Disappoints at Birdland,” Down Beat, August 25, 1950, 4: A try to
have Charlie Parker with strings at Café Society aborted and resulted in a
quintet gig. “In
Person: Charlie Parker,” Metronome, August 1950, 19: Positive review. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500608a |
June
late |
Birdland All Stars Miles Davis, Fats Navarro (tp), J. J. Johnson (tb); Brew Moore
(ts); Tadd Dameron, Walter Bishop Jr. (p); Curly Russell (b): Art Blakey (d);
Chubby Newsome (voc); Pee Wee Marquette (mc). Birdland, New York, NY. Tape recordings by Bill Hirsch exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesAhead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500630 I doubt Charlie Parker’s presence here. He supposed to be heard
in a flurry on Deception, but it could just as well be Brew Moore in a high-register
outburst. According to Phil Schaap, Bird
Flight, (WKCR) the June 30 date comes from Bill Hirsch, who claimed that
the recording took place a week before Navarro died. Boris Rose’s Birdland Book dates some of this material May 17,
but in a 1993 telephone interview with Don
Manning Boris said that the dating of the material in this part of his list
is rather arbitrary in order to conceal the real recording date (a
transcription is located at IJS, Rutgers University, NJ). |
June
late? |
Jam session? Charlie Parker (as); unidentified (p); unidentified (b);
unidentified (d). Unknown venue, possibly Café Society, New York, NY. Unknown date, possibly June/July 1950 Private recording exists. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500700 |
July |
Jazz at the Philharmonic Release of Norman Granz’ Jazz at the Philharmonic Vol. 12. Mercury
11054, 11055, 11056. 3 10" 78 rpm. records album. MG vol. 12 10" 33 rpm. LP. Recorded September 18, 1949. Jazz at the Philharmonic MG 11054 A The Opener part 1 MG 11054 B Lester Leaps In part 3 MG 11055 A The Opener part 2 MG 11055 B Lester Leaps In part 2 MG 11056 A The Opener part 3 MG 11056 B Lester Leaps In part 1 MG-vol. 12-A The Opener MG-vol. 12-B Lester Leaps In |
"Album
and LP Record Reviews," Billboard, July 22, 1950, 37: Positive
review. Rating 80 (excellent). Diggin’
the Discs with Mix: Combo Jazz,” Down Beat, August 25, 1950, 15: Album
rating: 3 notes (tasty). |
July
6 |
Charlie Parker with Strings Charlie Parker (as, dir);
Tommy Macey (oboe); Sam Caplan, Jerry Molfese, All Feller (vln); Dave Uchitel
(viola); Seymour Barab (cello); Wallace MacManus (harp); Al Haig (p); Tommy
Potter (b); Roy Haynes (d). Gene Ammons/Sonny Stitt Band Incl. Sonny Stitt (as); Gene Ammons (ts). Stan Getz Quartet Stan Getz (ts); Al Haig p); Tommy Potter (b); probably Roy
Haynes (d). Birdland, New York, NY. July 6-26. |
“Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, July 8, 1950, 5. “Night Club Reviews: Birdland,” Billboard, July 22, 1950, 43: Reviewed on Thursday July 6. “In
Person: Charlie Parker,” Metronome, August 1950, 19: Positive
review. “Bird,
Backed by Strings, Disappoints at Birdland,” Down Beat, August 25, 1950, 4: Very negative review. The personnel are listed. |
July
27 |
Charlie Parker with Strings Teddy Blume (vln) replaces Sam Caplan during this or the ensuing
engagement. Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra Dizzy Gillespie (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Bud Powell (p); Curly
Russell (b); Art Blakey (d). Coleman Hawkins Band Miles Davis (tp); J. J.
Johnson (tb); Coleman Hawkins (ts); same rhythm group as Gillespie. Birdland, New York, NY. July 27–August 9. |
“Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, July 29, 1950, 4: Charlie Parker with Strings, Dizzy
Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins. “Night Club Reviews: Birdland,” Variety, August 2, 1950, 46. “Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, August 5, 1950, 4: Through August 9: Charlie Parker
with Strings, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins. Teddy Blume interviewed by Phil Schaap in a WCKR radio broadcast
August 29, 1987: Blume subbed for Caplan on a Sunday night because Parker had
fired Caplan. Parker did not show up until 2 a.m., so Gillespie subbed for
Parker until then. There were problems about money for paying the musicians
and Blume quit the job without being paid. If it was a payday, it seems more likely that this happened on a
Wednesday than a Sunday, as engagements usually ran from Thursdays to
Wednesdays. Blume also tells of Symphony Sid broadcasting from Birdland on
this night. Symphony Sid’s all-night disc show had started to emanate from
Birdland on August 1. It was sent Tuesday to Sunday from midnight to 5:45
a.m. on WJZ (“Symphony Sid Goes into N.Y. Jazz Nitery,” Variety, July 12, 1950, 42). The next day Billy Shaw called Teddy Blume to the agency office
and offered him the job as 1st violinist. Blume accepts; Sam Caplan
returns at Blume’s request but leaves shortly after because of continuing
quarrels with Parker. Blume also claims that he was offered the position as personal
manager for Parker instead of Maely Bartholomew at this occasion, but this
seems to have been later (see August late). Teddy Blume in R. Reisner, Bird:
The Legend of Charlie Parker (1962), 56–62. |
August
10 |
Charlie Parker with Strings Billy Taylor replaces Al Haig (p). Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra Kai Winding Band Birdland, New York, NY. August 10-16. |
“Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, August 12, 1950, 6: Charlie Parker with Strings,
Dizzy Gillespie Band, and Kai Winding Band closing August 16. Jam sessions on
Mondays. Billy Taylor interviewed by Mr. Brown and Eugene Holly, November
19, 1993, transcript pp.78–79. Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC: Taylor joined Parker with Strings at
Birdland one week before the Apollo gig. Phil Schaap, Bird Flight, WKCR: Parker did not show up on last
night. Gillespie subbed for him. |
August
17 |
Charlie Parker with Strings 11 pieces: Charlie Parker (as, dir); Tommy Macey (oboe); Teddy
Blume, Sam Caplan?, Stan Karpenia (vln); Dave Uchitel (viola); Bill Bundy
(cello); Wallace McManus (harp); Billy Taylor (p), Tommy Potter (b), Roy
Haynes (d). Stan Getz Orchestra Stan
Fishelson, Al Porcino, Harry Edison
Idrees Sulieman (tp); Johnny Mandel (b-tp); Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Don
Lanphere (ts); Gerry Mulligan (bars); Terry Gibbs (vib); Billy Taylor (p);
Tommy Potter (b); Roy Haynes (d). Sarah Vaughan (voc) acc. by Jimmy Jones, George Treadwell (dir); Stan Getz
Orchestra; Charlie Parker Orchestra. Timmie Rogers (comedy and voc) acc. by Stan Getz Orchestra. Three Poms (tapsters). Symphony Sid (mc). Apollo Theater, New York, NY. August 17-23. This bill constituted Apollo’s re-opening after 4 weeks of
re-decoration. A new practice was introduced: Apollo bill openings on
Thursdays instead of Fridays. August 22: Private tape recordings by Al Porcino exist: Charlie Parker with Strings: 6 shows. Finale: Sarah Vaughan; Stan Getz Orchestra; Charlie Parker. Wednesday August 23: Harlem Amateur Night. WMCA broadcast 11:10–12:00 p.m.: Private recording exists: Parker with Strings and Sarah Vaughan
with Stan Getz Orchestra. |
Ad in New York Age,
August 19, 1950, 9. “House Reviews: Apollo, N. Y.,” Variety, August 23, 1959, 18: reviewed on August 17. “Metronome Reviews in Person,” Metronome , November 1950,
22: Review: Has Harry Edison (tp) instead of Sulieman; has Charlie
Parker’s rhythm section. Teddy Blume in R. Reisner, Bird:
The Legend of Charlie Parker (1962), 59: Teddy Blume claims that he acted
as Parker’s personal manager here. “On the Radio,” New York
Times, August 23, 1950, 58. Phil Schaap, Bird Flight
(WKCR) April 2012. Boris Rose’s Birdland Book https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500817 https://www.plosin.com/milesAhead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500823 |
August
late |
Charlie Parker Maely Bartholomew [Dufty] becomes personal manager for Charlie
Parker. The press describes her as a European newspaperwoman, who plans to
sign artists for work abroad. This seems to have been announced at Parker’s birthday party at
Birdland on August 29. Teddy Blume takes over as personal manager after her. |
Photo and text in Chicago
Defender (Nat. ed), September 26, 1950, 20. “Early Bird Gets, “Pittsburgh
Courier (Nat. ed.) September 9, 1950, 14. Maely Bartholomew [Dufty] was married to actor Freddie
Bartholomew. Later, she divorced Bartholomew and married the journalist
William Dufty, Billie Holiday’s biographer. Teddy Blume interviewed by Phil Schaap in WCKR radio broadcast
August 29, 1987. |
August
late/ September
early |
Charlie Parker with Strings Joseph Singer (frh); Charlie Parker (as); Edwin Brown (oboe),
Sam Caplan, Howard Kay, Zelly Smirnoff (vln); Isadore Zir (viola); Maurice
Brown (cello); Verley Mills (harp); Bernie Leighton (p); Ray Brown (b); Buddy
Rich (d); Joe Lipman (arr & dir). Reeves Sound Studios, 304
East 44th Street, New York, NY. Late August / early September. Commercial recordings for Mercury. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesAhead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500800b https://www.jazzdisco.org/charlie-parker/discography/ https://www.preservationsound.com/?p=7848 Phil Schaap, Bird Flight
(WKCR): The conventional given date is July 5, but this is wrong. Lippman has
said that he consulted Parker concerning the arrangements during the Apollo
Theater engagement. There seems to have been two sessions. |
August
28 |
Charlie Parker probably accompanied by Eddie Shanholtz Quintet Rainbow Inn, New Brunswick, NJ. Private tape recordings exist. |
Ad in Courier News, August 28, 1950, 17: "Charlie Parker in an evening of Modern Sounds - also- Eddie Shanholtz Quintet." It is possible that Parker was accompanied by Shanholtz' quintet. The
ad is not informative on this point. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500828 |
August
29 |
Charlie Parker Birdland, New York, NY. Parker celebrates his 30th birthday at a party at Birdland.
Billy Eckstine participates. |
“Really Flying High,” Chicago
Defender (Nat. ed), September 26, 1950, 21: Photo and text. |
August
31 |
Charlie Parker with Strings Stan Getz Band Oscar Pettiford Trio Billy Taylor (p); Oscar Pettiford (b); Jo Jones (d). Birdland, New York, NY. August 31–September 13. |
“Goings on About own: Birdland,” New Yorker, September 2, 1950, 6: Pettiford Trio, Stan Getz Band,
and Charlie Parker with strings. “Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, September 9, 6: Pettiford Trio, Stan Getz Band, and
Charlie Parker, all closing September 13. |
September
|
Charlie
Parker Sextet Release
of Dial 1055 September 1950 10”
78 rpm record. Charlie
Parker Sextet Recorded
December 17, 1947. Dial
1055-A How Deep Is the Ocean Dial
1055-B Crazeology |
Ad
for Microgroove Record Co, Metronome October 1950, 32 lists this record. |
September
? |
Charlie
Parker Quintet The
Release date of Dial 1056 is not identified. Probably last part of 1950
judging from the series number Charlie
Parker Quintet Recorded
October 28, 1947. Dial
1056-A The Hymn Dial
1056-B Air Conditioning (Dewey Square) |
|
September
? |
Charlie
Parker Quintet The
Release date of Dial 1058 is not identified. Probably last part of 1950
judging from the series number. Charlie
Parker Quintet Recorded
November 4, 1947. Dial
1058-A My Old Flame Dial
1058-B Bird Feathers |
|
September
early |
JATP Charlie Parker-Coleman Hawkins Charlie Parker (as); Coleman Hawkins (ts); Hank Jones (p); Ray
Brown (b); Buddy Rich (d). Hank Jones Trio Hank Jones (p); Ray Brown (b): Buddy Rich (d). Lester Young-Bill Harris Bill Harris (tb); Lester Young (ts); Hank Jones (p); Ray Brown
(b); Buddy Rich (d). Ella Fitzgerald/Harry Edison/Flip Philips Harry Edison (tp): Bill
Harris (tb); Lester Young, Flip Philips (ts); Hank Jones (p); Ray Brown (b);
Buddy Rich (d); Ella Fitzgerald (voc). Gjon Mili Studio, New York, NY. Between September 5 and September 15. Shooting and recording for a Norman Granz film project titled Improvisation. Film and recordings exist. |
“JATP Sets Up Film
Division,” Billboard, June 17,
1950, 42: Shooting will start on September 5. “Granz Duz All, Makes Hot Jazz Pay Upward of $500,000 a Yr.,” Billboard, September 9, 1950, 13:
article dated New York September 3. In conjunction with photographer Gjon
Mili, Granz will produce the first of a series of JATP movie shorts. “Johnny Gotham's New York Beat,” New York Age, October 28, 1950, 14: JATP is now available on film
starring Ella Fitzgerald, Flip Philips, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins,
Buddy Rich, Hank Jones, Ray Brown, and Harry Edison. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500900a |
September
early |
Charlie Parker Quartet Charlie Parker (as); Hank Jones (p); Ray Brown (b); Buddy Rich
(d). Unidentified studio, New York, NY. Commercial recordings for Mercury Records. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500300 The conventional dating, March/April 1950, seems dubious. These recordings are more probably from the period of the Improvisation recordings of Granz. |
September
15 |
JATP Concert JATP Tour Band Bill Harris (tb); Flip Philips, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins (ts);
Hank Jones, Oscar Peterson (p); Ray Brown (b): Buddy Rich (d); Ella Fitzgerald
(voc). Charlie Parker? Oscar Peterson Bushnell Memorial Auditorium, Hartford,
CT. 8:30 p.m. |
"Sings Here Friday," Hartford Courant, September 14,
1950, 8: Mentions Charlie Parker. Ad in Hartford Courant, September 14, 1950, 8: does not mention
Charlie Parker. |
September
16 |
JATP Concert JATP Tour Band Harry Edison (tp); Bill Harris (tb); Flip Philips, Coleman
Hawkins, Lester Young (ts); Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones (p); Ray Brown (b);
Buddy Rich (d); Ella Fitzgerald (voc). Charlie Parker with Strings Charlie Parker (as); Tommy Mace (oboe); Teddy Blume, Sam Caplan,
Stan Karpenia (vln); Dave Uchitel (viola); unidentified (cello); Wallace McManus (harp); Al Haig (p);
Tommy Potter (b): Roy Haynes (d). Oscar Peterson Carnegie Hall, New York, NY. 8:30 p.m. Recordings exist. |
“Granz Duz All, Makes Hot Jazz Pay Upward of $500,000 a Yr.,” Billboard, September 9, 1950, 13: Ad in Daily News, September 15,
1950, 89: Edison is mentioned as added attraction, but he participated in the
rest of the tour. “’Jazz at the Philharmonic” Packs Carnegie Hall, N.Y...." Variety, September 20, 1950, 40:
Review. https://www.plosin.com/milesAhead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=500916 |
September
17 |
JATP Concert JATP Tour Band Harry Edison (tp); Bill Harris (tb); Flip Philips, Coleman
Hawkins, Lester Young (ts); Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones (p); Ray Brown (b);
Buddy Rich (d); Ella Fitzgerald (voc). Charlie Parker with Strings Charlie Parker (as); Tommy Mace (oboe); Teddy Blume, Sam Caplan,
Stan Karpenia (vln); Dave Uchitel (viola); unidentified (cello); Wallace McManus (harp); Al Haig (p);
Tommy Potter (b): Roy Haynes (d). Oscar Peterson Mosque Theater, Newark, NJ. September 16 after midnight. |
“Granz Duz All, Makes Hot Jazz Pay Upward of $500,000 a Yr.,” Billboard, September 9, 1950, 13. |
September
17 |
JATP Concert JATP Tour Band Harry Edison (tp); Bill Harris (tb); Flip Philips, Coleman
Hawkins, Lester Young (ts); Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones (p); Ray Brown (b);
Buddy Rich (d); Ella Fitzgerald (voc). Charlie Parker with Strings Charlie Parker (as); Tommy Mace (oboe); Teddy Blume, Sam Caplan,
Stan Karpenia (vln); Dave Uchitel (viola); unidentified (cello); Wallace McManus (harp); Al Haig (p);
Tommy Potter (b): Roy Haynes (d). Oscar Peterson National Guard Armory, Washington, DC. 8:30 pm. |
“Granz Duz All, Makes Hot Jazz Pay Upward of $500,000 a Yr.,” Billboard, September 9, 1950, 13. Ad in Evening Star, September 15, 1950, C 8. |
September
22 |
Charlie Parker with Strings Nadine Jansen (p) Blue Note, Chicago, IL September 22–October 5. |
Ad in Chicago Sun-Times, September
21, sec. 2, 6. “Yardbird in Brooklyn,” New York Age,
October 21, 1950, 14: Parker has closed a glorious fortnight engagement at
the Blue Note. “Parker's ‘Mood Music’ Is Out of This World,” Chicago
Defender (nat. ed.), October 14, 1950, 20: Review of Blue Note
performances. |
October
6 |
Charlie Parker with Strings ? Ballroom, Detroit, MI. October 6-8. |
https://www.birdlives.co.uk/gallery/norman-saks-gallery Norman Saks Collection: Receipt for 10% collection by Local 5:
$66. Date of engagement: 3 days ending October 8, 1950. Day of receipt:
October 7, 1950. |
October
9 |
Charlie Parker and His Band Slim Gaillard Trio Ann Cornell (voc) Club Harlem, Philadelphia, PA. October 9-15. Nightly from 7:30 p.m. Saturday Matinee 2:30–6 p.m. |
Ad in Philadelphia Inquirer,
October 9, 1950, 26: Opening October 9. Nightly from 7:30. Saturday Matinee
2:30–6 p.m. Opening October 18; Jimmy Rushing "Philly Niteries Book Heavy Array
of Recording Names," Billboard, October 14, 1950, 55. "it's Happening Here," Philadelphia
Inquirer, October 12, 1950, 25: Jimmy Rushing opening at Club Harlem
Monday. “New Philly Spot Features Parker, Down Beat,
October 20, 1950, 16: states that ii is a 2-weeks engagement. |
October
13 |
Charlie Parker and His Band Benjamin Franklin High School,
Philadelphia, PA. |
"it's Happening Here," Philadelphia
Inquirer, October 13, 15, 1950. |
October
19 |
Charlie Parker with Strings Soldier Meyer's, Brooklyn, New York, NY. October 19-25. |
Ad in New York Amsterdam
News, October 14, 1950, B13: Opening Thursday, October 19. “Night Life,” Brooklyn
Eagle, October 20, 1950, 10: Parker opens a week's run tonight. |
October
23 |
Charlie Parker accompanied by Freeman Bros Band Earl Lavon Freeman, unidentified (ts); Chris Anderson,
unidentified (p); George Freeman (g); Leroy Jackson (b); Bruz Freeman (d);
unidentified (voc). Pershing Ballroom, Chicago IL. October 23, 1950. Private tape recordings by Donald Coy exist. |
“The ‘Bird’ Flies to Chicago,” Chicago Defender, November
4, 1950, 11. https://www.plosin.com/milesAhead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=501105 |
October
26 |
Charlie Parker with Strings? Birdland, New York, NY. October 26–November
2. |
“Goings On About Town: Birdland,” New Yorker, October 28, 1950, 12: "Through Thursday,
November 2, Charlie Parker's Band in full cry." Probably Parker with Strings. |
October
31 |
TV Broadcast Unidentified (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Milton De Lugg
(accordion); unidentified (p); unidentified (b); unidentified (d); Ray Malone
(tap dancer), Buddy Lester (mc, voc); Dagmar (mc); Jerry Lester (mc). WNTB TV Studio, New York, NY. 11:00 p.m.: Broadway Open House. Private sound-recordings exist. |
“Television,” Brooklyn
Eagle, October 31, 1950, 21: WNBT, 11:00: Broadway Open House. Jerry
Lester (mc). https://www.plosin.com/milesAhead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=501031 |
November |
Charlie Parker with Strings Release
of Mercury 11068 10”
78 rpm. record. Recorded
August 1950. Mercury
11068 A Dancing in the Dark Mercury
11068 B Laura |
“Record
Reviews: Hot Jazz,” Billboard,
November 25, 1950, 127: Overall
rating: Dancing in the Dark: 80 (excellent); Laura: 83 (excellent). |
November
3 |
Swedish Tour Charlie Parker signs a contract dated
November 3, which decreed a payment of § 1000 for the tour. One half paid before
Parker leaves US, and the rest in 3 parts during the stay in Sweden. It also included
a flying ticket New York-Stockholm and back on first class. |
M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 165–66: Reproduction
of the contract. |
November
18 |
Swedish Tour Roy Eldridge (tp); Charlie Parker (as). Eldridge did only participate in parts of the tour. November 18–November 27. Nils Hellström, Estrad,
(prod). |
M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014): this book
gives a very detailed account of the tour, based on a lot of primary sources. |
November
18 |
Swedish Tour Charlie Parker departs from New York. 11:30 am. |
www.ancestry,com: SAS SK 912: New York, USA–Gander, Newfoundland–Prestwick,
Scotland–Copenhagen, Denmark–Stockholm, Sweden. Only Parker (not Eldrigde) is departing from New York with this
plane. M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 45: Eldridge
entered the plane in Copenhagen. |
November
19 |
Swedish Tour Charlie Parker and Roy Eldridge arrive at Bromma, Stockholm, and
are checked in at the Hotel Plaza. |
M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 45–49. |
November
20 |
Swedish Tour concert Charles Norman Orchestra Leppe Sundewall (tp); Gösta Theselius
(ts); Charles Norman (p); Thore Jederby (b); Andrew Burman (d). Roy Eldridge accompanied by Charles Norman Orchestra Rolf Ericsson/Arne Domnerus Orchestra Rolf Ericsson (tp); Arne Domnerus (as); Rolf Blomquist (ts);
Lars Gullin (bars); Gunnar Svensson (p); Yngve Akerberg (b); Jack Norén (d). Charlie Parker accompanied by Rolf Ericsson (tp); Gunnar Svensson (p); Yngve
Akerberg (b); Jack Norén (d). Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden. 7 and 9 pm. During the day Charlie Parker and Roy Eldridge rehearsed for the
evening concerts. Private tape recordings exist. |
Ad in Dagens Nyheter, November 20, 1950. M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 53–73, 82–84 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=501120 |
November
20 |
Swedish Tour Jam session Leppe Sundewall, Roy Eldridge (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Lars Gullin
(bars); Rolf Larsson, Reinhold Svensson (p); Simon Brehm, Yngve Akerberg (b);
Jack Norén (d). Van der Lindeska Valven, Stockholm, Sweden. Jam session arranged by Stockholm's Jazz Club. A Monday night jam session had been announced at the jazz club,
Nalen, but this was not realized. |
M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 66, 75–81 |
November
21 |
Swedish Tour Concert The Swedish All Stars Rolf Ericsson (tp); Arne Domnerus (as); Gösta Theselius (ts); Charles
Norman (p); Thore Jederby (b); Jack Norén (d). Roy Eldridge accompanied by Swedish All Stars The Swedish All Stars Rolf Ericsson (tp); Arne Domnerus (as); Gösta Theselius (p);
Thore Jederby (b); Jack Norén (d). Charlie Parker accompanied by Rolf
Ericsson (tp); Gösta Theselius (p); Thore Jederby (b); Jack Norén (d). Konserthuset, Göteborg, Sweden. 7 and 9 pm. |
Ad in Göteborgsposten, November 20, 1950. M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 85–96. |
November
22 |
Swedish Tour Concert and Dance The Swedish All Stars Rolf Ericsson (tp); Arne Domnerus (as); Gösta Theselius (p);
Thore Jederby (b); Jack Norén (d). Charlie Parker Rolf Ericsson (tp); Arne Domnerus (as); Gösta Theselius (p);
Thore Jederby (b); Jack Norén (d). Gene Richmond’s Orchestra Amiralen, Malmö, Sweden. 8 pm. Concert and dance. Private tape recordings exist. |
Ad in Arbetet, November 22, 1950. M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 97–103,
108–10. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=501122 |
November
22 |
Swedish Tour Jam session Rolf Ericsson, Beppo Gräsman (tp); Leif Been (cl); Charlie
Parker; Arne Domnerus (as); Gösta Theselius (p); Thore Jederby, Eje Öberg
(b); Jack Norén (d). University of Lund, Lund, Sweden. Jam session after the concert in Malmö |
M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 103–105. |
November
23 |
Swedish Tour - Copenhagen Concert Leo Mathiesen Band Including Jörgen Ryg (tp); Leo Mathiesen (p). Helge Jacobsen’s Trio Including Helge Jacobsen
(g). Lasse Gerlyng’s Orchestra Including Rowland Greenberg
(tp). The Swedish All Stars Rolf Ericsson (tp); Arne Domnerus (as); Gösta Theselius (p);
Thore Jederby (b); Jack Norén (d). Roy Eldridge Accompanied by Swedish All Stars. Charlie Parker Accompanied by Swedish All Stars (without Domnerus). KB-Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark. The concerts closed with a general jam session. 7 and 9:15 pm. |
Ad in Politiken, November 23, 1950. M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 111–116,
118–120. |
November
24 |
Swedish Tour Concert and Dance. The Swedish All Stars Rowland Greenberg; Rolf Ericsson (tp); Arne Domnerus (as); Gösta
Theselius (p); Thore Jederby (b); Jack Norén (d). Charlie Parker Accompanied by Swedish All Stars (without Domnerus). Jack Philips Orchestra Lennart Johansson (tp); Rune Håkonsson (ts); Lennart Nilsson
(p); Folke Holst (B); Errik Saxell (d). (dance before and between concerts) Folkparken, Hälsingborg, Sweden. 9:30 and 23 pm. Private recordings exist. |
Ad in Skånska Socialdemokraten, November 22, 1950. M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 123–26, 130–31, https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=501124a |
November
24 |
Swedish Tour Jam session Rowland Greenberg, Rolf Ericsson (tp), Charlie Parker (as),
Gösta Theselius (ts), Lennart Nilsson (p), Folke Holst and/or Thore Jederby (b), Eric Nilsson (d), Restaurant Sjöcrona, Folkparken, Hälsingborg, Sweden. Jam session after the concerts. Private recordings exist. |
M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 126–29. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=501124b |
November
25 |
Swedish Tour Concert and Dance. The Swedish All Stars Rowland Greenberg (tp); Arne Domnerus (as), cl); Gösta Theselius
(p); Thore Jederby (b); Jack Norén (d). Charlie Parker Accompanied by Swedish All Stars Blå Fältet Spännerville’s Orchestra Jönköbings Idrottshus, Jönköpimg, Sweden. 8 pm–midnight |
Ad in Smålands Allehanda, November 22, 1950. M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 134–140- |
November
26 |
Swedish Tour Concert and Dance. The Swedish All Stars Rolf Ericsson; (tp); Arne Domnerus (as) cl); Gösta Theselius
(p); Thore Jederby (b); Jack Norén (d). Charlie Parker Accompanied by Swedish All Stars Blå Fältet Spännerville’s Orchestra Dans-restaurangen, Folkparken, Gävle, Sweden. 8 pm–1 am. |
Ad in Gefle Dagblad, November 23, 1959. M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 142–48. |
November
27 |
Swedish Tour Toots Thielemans Putte Wickman’s Orchestra Including Putte Wickman (cl); Bosse Hällström (vib); Roland
Bengtsson (b); Stubben Kallin (d). Cab Caye Oand His Cabinets Charlie Parker Accompanied by Wickman’s orchestra. Nalen, Stockholm, Sweden. |
M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 151–155:
Charlie Parker Guests Nalen. |
November
28 |
Swedish Tour Charlie Parker Flight departure from Sweden, arrival in Paris. Charles Delaunay had invited Charlie Parker to do a concert in
Paris and promised an advance. Charlie Parker moves in at Kenny Clarke and Annie Ross'
apartment. |
M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 157- Chan Parker (Richardson), My
Life In E-Flat (1993) , 30–31. K. Vail, Bird’s Diary
(1996), 93: Note from Kenny Clarke to Parker. |
November
28 |
Swedish Tour - Paris Charlie Parker Maurice Moufflard Orchestra Roger Guerin, Georges Jouvin, Pierre Fassin, Yves Alouette (tp);
André Paginet, Maurice Gladieu, Charles Juss (tb); Robert Merchez (as);
Marcel Pomes (ts); Honoré Truc (bs); Robert Cambier (p); Henri Karen (b);
Pierre Loteguy (d); unidentified (perc), Maurice Moufflard (arr, dir). Studio Washington, Le Poste Parisien, Paris, France. O.R.T.F. radio broadcast. Recording exists. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=501128 |
December
2 |
Swedish Tour - Paris Charlie Parker Charlie Parker leaves Paris and thereby
backs out of a planned concert appearance together with Kenny Clarke in the
weekend. |
www.ancestry.com: SAS SK 911: Stockholm, Sweden–Oslo, Norway–Prestwick, Scotland–Gander,
Newfoundland–New York, USA. Parker
enters this flight in Prestwick. He may have reached here via a KLM flight
from Amsterdam–New York, which also had a stop in Prestwick on December 2. L. Feather, “Parker Hotar Stämma Delaunay,” Estrad, February 1951, 7: Article, dated January 1, explains
Parker retreat, which involved contractual matters. Parker claims that he was
offered no salary and only francs 10,000 pr. day to cover his expenses, money
that he never got. There were also disagreements concerning who should pay
his return flying ticket. M. Westin, Charlie Parker in Sweden (2014), 157–59:
Confirms that Parker left for
contractual reasons. The Swedish promoter, Hellström, would not allow Parker
to perform in Paris without that the Charles Delaunay paid Parker’s return
ticket. On this background Billy Shaw ordered Parker not to perform in Paris
and leave immediately. |
December
3 |
Charlie Parker Parker arrives at New York at 10:48 am. He is met in the airport by Chan Parker and Leonard Feather. They are lunching together, and Feather sets Parker in
telephonic contact with Charles Delaunay giving Parker an opportunity to explain his absence from the concert. This was
recorded for use in Feather’s radio show. |
www.ancestry.com: SAS SK 911: Stockholm, Sweden–Oslo, Norway–Prestwick, Scotland–Gander,
Newfoundland–New York, USA. Chan Parker (Richardson), My
Life In E-Flat (1993) 31. |
December
4 |
Charlie Parker Medical Arts Hospital, New York, NY. December 4– mid December. Parker is hospitalized for ulcers. |
“Parker in Hosp; Ulcers,” Variety,
December 6, 1950, 40: Parker is bedded at Medical Arts Hospital on Monday 4,
for ulcers. “Rhythm and Blues Notes,”
Billboard, December 16, 1950, 81: Parker left the hospital last week. Chan Parker (Richardson), My
Life In E-Flat (1993) 31. |
December
15 |
Ella Fitzgerald (voc) acc. by Ray Brown Trio Probably Hank Jones (p); Ray
Brown (b); unidentified (d). Billy Taylor Quartet Billy Taylor (p): unidentified (g); Joe
Shulman (b); Jo Jones (d). Bud Powell Trio? Bud Powell (p); unidentified (b); unidentified
(d). Charlie Parker Quintet Red Rodney (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Kenny
Drew (p); Curly Russell (b); Art Blakey (d). (Only December 22). Charlie Parker with Strings (Only December 23) Terry Gibbs Quartet Terry Gibbs (vib), Bill Triglia (p),
Teddy Kotick (b), Charlie Smith (d). (Probably from late December) Birdland, New York, NY. December 15–January 3, 1951. Probably December 23, 1950: WJZ broadcast: Symphony Sid. 12- 5:45
a.m. the Birdland transmission was from 3-4 a.m. Charlie Parker Quintet Red Rodney (tp); Charlie Parker (as);
Kenny Drew (p); Curly Russell (b); Art Blakey (d). Private recordings exist. December 30. WJZ broadcast: Symphony Sid. 12- 5:45
am. the Birdland transmission was from 3-4 a.m. Bill Harris, Zoot Sims, Harry Edison, and Billy Taylor Trio Terry Gibbs Quartet Ella Fitzgerald Private recordings exist. |
“Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New
Yorker, December 16, 1950, 8: Opening December 15: Ella Fitzgerald, Ray
Brown Trio, Billy Taylor Quartet. Bud Powell Quartet. “Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New
Yorker, December 23, 1950, 4: Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Taylor. “Goings on About Town: Birdland,” New
Yorker, December 30, 1950, 4: Closing January 3: Ella Fitzgerald, Billy
Taylor. “Vibe Gibbs Exits B.G. to Front Own
Orch,” Variety, November 29, 1950, 41: Gibbs Orchestra incl. Bill
Triglia (p), Teddy Kotick (b), Charlie Smith (d) will open at Birdland after
his Philadelphia shakedown. Discographies show Parker WJZ broadcast
recordings, usually dated December 9. Bob Garrity’s incomplete announcement
mentions Charlie Parker and Billy Taylor. This indicates a date after
December 15. There is no doubt that the broadcast is
from Birdland. In the opening announcement Symphony Sid states that this is
the first Friday night/Saturday morning broadcast from Birdland running from
3-4 a.m. Symphony Sid's closing announcement, which is not clearly decipherable,
indicates that this group was supposed to be at Birdland in the beginning of
the new year. “Rhythm and Blues Notes,” Billboard,
December 16, 1950, 31: Parker will not be at work until an engagement in
Philadelphia on December 24. Parker may have been an added attraction
on September 22, or a substitute for the Bud Powell Trio. “Homebird,” Daily News, December
23, 1950, 19: Charlie Parker and his string group join Ella Fitzgerald
tonight Bill Harris is the Monday feature. “On the Radio,” New York Times,
December 22, 1950, 30: 12:00-5:45 a.m.: Symphony Sid. This broadcast is not included in Boris
Rose’s Birdland list. Here the first recorded broadcast is from the next
Saturday, December 30, and this does not include Charlie Parker. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=501223 |
December
21 |
Charlie Parker Flip Philips Machito Orchestra Reeves Sound Studios, 304
East 44th Street, New York, NY. Commercial recordings for Mercury. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=501221 https://www.preservationsound.com/?p=7848 |
December
25 |
Charlie Parker and His Band Red Rodney (tp), Charlie Parker (as), Kenny Drew (p), Curly
Russell (b), Phil Brown (d). Rendezvous, Philadelphia, PA. December 25–?. Xmas Matinee 5–7 p.m. Nightly from 8 p.m. Probably not fulfilled (see January 3, 1951). |
“Rhythm and Blues Notes,” Billboard,
December 16, 1950, 31: Starting Christmas night for a week. Ad in Philadelphia Inquirer,
December 22, 1950, 35: Coming Charlie Parker. Xmas Matinee 5–7 p.m. Monday. Ad in Philadelphia Inquirer,
December 24, 1950, 38; Xmas Matinee 5–7 p.m. Monday. Nightly from 8 p.m. “It's Happening Here,” Philadelphia
Inquirer, December 27, 1951, 31: Charlie Parker opened at the Rendezvous
Monday. Ad in Philadelphia Inquirer,
December 27, 1950, 25: Nightly from 8 p.m. Philadelphia Inquirer has no further ads for this engagement. Ad in Philadelphia Inquirer,
December 29, 1950, 11: The photos of night club stars do not show Charlie
Parker. “It's Happening Here,” Philadelphia Inquirer,
January 1, 1951, 17: Billy Day opens at the Rendezvous tonight. |
December
29 |
Down Beat 1950 Band Poll Combo–Instrumental
14. Charlie Parker Alto Sax 1. Charlie Parker 2. Lee Konitz 3. Johnny Hodges 4. Willie Smith 5. Art Pepper 6. Charlie Parker |
“Kenton, Shearing Poll Winners…” Down
Beat, December 29, 1050, 1, 14. |