|
1952 |
Charlie Parker
Chronology |
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Created by Leif
Bo Petersen |
Last Update: December
15, 2024. |
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Date |
Event |
References/Further Details |
|
January |
Metronome All Stars Alto Sax 1. Charlie Parker 2. Lee Konitz 3. Art Pepper 4. Johnny Hodges 5. Willie Smith |
”The Winners,” Metronome, January 1953, 11–16. |
|
January 4 |
George Shearing Charlie Parker Westchester County
Center, White Plains, NY. Evening. Johnny Dumonte
(prod.) Concert and dance. Dumont Association of Mount Vernon. |
“Shearing to Play
at County Center,” Herald Statesman (Yonkers, NY.) January 4, 1952,
10. Ad in New York Age, December 29, 1951, 14. |
|
January 4 |
Charlie Parker All Stars Probably
including: Jackie Mclean, Charlie Parker (as); Walter Bishop Jr. (p); Percy
Heath (b); Art Blakey (d). Chateau
Gardens, New York, NY. James
LaRue (prod.) |
K.
Vail, Bird’s Diary (1996), 144:
This engagement is mentioned in a letter from Parker to AFM dated January 11,
1954. Parker claims that the producer, James LaRue, had denied paying the remaining
$ 350 ($500 minus $150 in advance) of his salary. Jackie
McLean has several times told a story of subbing for Parker at a gig at
Chateau Gardens where Parker was late because of doubling in an upstate
engagement with another group: Jackie
McLean in A.B. Spellman, Four Lives in
The Bebop Business (1966), 219–21. Jackie
McLean interviewed for Ken Burns’ film: Jazz
(1996). A transcription of this interview can be found here: https://www-tc.pbs.org/jazz/about/pdfs/McLean.pdf The Mclean episode is
usually dated 1950, but as I have found no Parker gigs at Chateau Gardens in
1950 or 1951, I think it fits with this engagement also because Parker had
another engagement on this date. |
|
January 22 |
Charlie Parker with Strings Chris Griffin, Al
Porcino, Bernie Previn (tp); Will Bradley, Bill Harris (tb); Charlie Parker,
Toots Mondello, Murray Williams (as); Hank Ross, Art Drelinger (ts); Stanley
Webb (bars); unidentified (strings, woodwinds). Verley Mills (harp); Lou
Stein (p); Art Ryerson (g); Bob Haggart (b); Don Lamond (d); Joe Lippman
(cond, arr). Reeves
Sound Studios, 304 East 44th Street, New York, NY. January 22-23. Commercial recordings for
Mercury. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520122 https://www.jazzdisco.org/charlie-parker/discography/ https://www.preservationsound.com/?p=7848 |
|
January 23? |
Charlie Parker Septet Benny Harris (tp);
Charlie Parker (as); Walter Bishop, Jr. (p); Teddy Kotick (b); Max Roach (d);
Jose Mangual (bgo); Luis Miranda (cng). Unidentified studio, New
York, NY. Commercial recordings for
Mercury. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520123 K. Vail, Bird's Diary (1996), 106: dates
January 28. I have doubts about these
dates. I do not find it very plausible that Parker on the same day had two
quite different recordings sessions. Considering the personnel, the
recordings could be from 1951, maybe in June when Granz was in New York for
recording business (“On the Upbeat,” Variety, June 27, 1951, 50: “Norman Granz in NYC to work on
recording sessions with Charlie Parker and with Charlie Ventura.”). |
|
February 24 |
Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie Dizzy
Gillespie (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Dick Hyman (p); Sandy Block (b); Charlie
Smith (d). Betty Clooney Dumont
TV Studio, New York, NY. Telecast:
Dumont Network. In New York: WABD (Channel 5), 7:00 p.m.: Stage Entrance.
Betty Clooney, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Leonard Feather are
guests. Earl Wilson (mc). Parker
and Gillespie are presented with Down
Beat awards. Sound
recording off the air by Chan Parker (Richardson) exists. Kinescope
recording exists. |
“Television
and Radio Programs,” Brooklyn Daily
Eagle, February 24, 1952, 30. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520224 K. Vail, Bird's Diary (1996), 107: Shows still
photos taken from the kinescope recording. |
|
March |
JATP Release of Norman
Granz' Jazz at the Philharmonic vol. 14 Mercury C-625 3 10" 78
rpm. records. 10" 33 rpm.
LP. Parker only
appears on I Got Rhythm. Recorded April
22, 1946 Jazz at the
Philharmonic Mercury 11084 A I Got Rhythm Part 1 Mercury 11084 B I Surrender Dear Part 3 Mercury 11085 A I Got Rhythm Part 2 Mercury 11085 B I Surrender Dear Part 2 Mercury 11086 A I Got Rhythm Part 3 Mercury 11086 B I Surrender Dear Part 1 Mercury MG vol.
14 A I Got Rhythm Mercury MG vol.
14 B I Surrender Dear |
“Advance Record
Releases: Hot Jazz,” Billboard, March 8, 1952, 38: lists the 3 78 rpm.
records album. Ad for Andrews
Record Shop, Lansing State Journal, March 30, 1952, 33: lists the LP
edition. |
|
March |
Charlie Parker Release of Mercury
11087. 10" 78 rpm.
record. Recorded January
17, 1951 Charlie Parker
& His Orchestra Mercury 11087 A Au Privave Mercury 11087 B Star Eyes |
Mercury ad in Billboard,
March 29, 1952, 31, 3: lists this record. Record Reviews:
Jazz,” Down Beat, May 7, 1952, 11: Au Privave: 2 stars (fair); Star
Eyes: 3 stars. (good). |
|
March 3 |
Charlie Parker and His Band Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker(as); Walter Bishop
Jr. (p); Frank Skeete (b); Roy Haynes (d). Al Vega Trio Hi Hat, Boston, MA. March
3-9. |
Ad in Boston Daily Record, March 1, 1952,
26: Charlie Parker opening Monday. Ad in Boston Daily Record, March 8, 1952,
32: Charlie Parker through Sunday. Mammoth concert all day Sunday. “Strictly Ad Lib, Down Beat, April 18, 19: Parker’s
recent week at Hi Hat with Dorham, Bishop, Frank Skeete, and Roy Haynes, B. Blumenthal, Liner notes in booklet to the CD: Charlie Parker in Boston, 1952,
Uptown UPCD 27.42 (1996), 25: Herb Pomery remembers the personnel from this,
the second, appearance of Parker at the Hi Hat. |
|
March 24 |
Concert Billy Butterfield,
Red Allen (tp); Big Chief Moore, Bill Harris (tb); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Louis
Prima (tp, voc); Charlie Parker (as); Jerry Jerome (ts); Teddy Wilson, Dick
Cary (p); Eddie Safranski (b); Don Lamond (d); Dottie Reed (voc). Loew's Kings,
Brooklyn, New York, NY. 8:45 p.m. Jerry Jerome
(prod). On location
recording by Jerry Jerome? VOA Broadcast: Jazz
Club U.S.A.: Leonard Feather (mc). Tape recordings exist. |
“Big Jazz Concert
at Loew's Kings, Monday, March 24,” Brooklyn Eagle, March 20, 1952,
11. Ad in Brooklyn
Eagle, March 24, 1952, 5. “Loew's Houses Open
to Jazz,” Down Beat, April 19, 1952, 4: Has Cutty Cutshall in the
line-up. “Swing Hits New
York with a Bang,” Down Beat, May 7, 1952, 18. The photo shows Big
Chief Moore in the lineup and not Cutty Cutshall. “The Lyon’s Den,” Morning
Advocate, March 15, 1952, 4A: In this period Leonard Feather used live
tape-recordings for his Voice of America broadcast series titled: Jam
Session U.S.A [sic]. The proper title was Jazz Club U.S.A. F. Hoffmann has
uploaded the whole Voice of America edition of the concert on YouTube
(hoffmannjazz): Feather's announcement tells that everything comes from the
Loew's Kings concert. Big Chief Moore is heard soloing. Charlie Parker's Cool
Blues track is on this broadcast edition. See also: https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520325b https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520325c According to Phil Schaap the Ornithology
track comes from a tape in the possession of Jerome, who has said that it was
he who did the recordings of the concert(s). It is not known whether it comes
from this concert or the next day's concert. |
|
March 25 |
Charlie Parker and His Orchestra. Charlie Parker (as);
Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Poole, Al Porcino, Bernie Previn (tp); Bill Harris, Lou
McGarity, Bart Varsalona (tb); Harry Terrill, Murray Williams (as); Flip
Phillips, Hank Ross (ts); Danny Bank (bars); Oscar Peterson (p); Freddie
Green (g); Ray Brown (b); Don Lamond (d); Joe Lipman (arr, cond). Reeves
Sound Studios, 304 East 44th Street, New York, NY. Commercial recordings for
Mercury. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520325a https://www.jazzdisco.org/charlie-parker/discography/ https://www.preservationsound.com/?p=7848 |
|
March 25 |
Concert Hot Lips Page, Red
Allen (tp) Bill Harris, Lou McGarity (tb); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Charlie
Parker (as); Jerry Jerome (ts); Teddy Wilson, Dick Cary (p); Eddie Safranski
(b); Don Lamond (d); Dottie Reed, Louis Prima (voc). Loew's Valencia,
Queens, New York, NY. 8:45 p.m. Jerry Jerome (prod). |
“Big Jazz Concert
at Loew's Kings, Monday, March 24,” Brooklyn Eagle, March 20, 1952,
11. Ad in Long
Island Star-Journal, March 25, 1952, 12. “Loew's Houses Open
to Jazz,” Down Beat, April 19, 1952, 4: Has Hot Lips Page and Lou
McGarity replacing Butterfield and Cutshall. |
|
March late |
Charlie Parker and His All Stars Probably: Red Rodney (tp); Charlie Parker(as);
Walter Bishop Jr. (p); Teddy Kotick (b); Roy Haynes (d). Colonial Tavern, Toronto, Canada. Late March. |
Ad in Providence
Journal, March 31, 1953, 20: tells that the band comes from Colonial
Tavern in Canada. |
|
March 31 |
Charlie Parker
and His All Star Recording Band Probably: Red Rodney (tp); Charlie Parker(as); Walter
Bishop Jr. (p); Teddy Kotick (b); Roy Haynes (d). Celebrity Club,
Providence, RI. March 31–April 6. Jam session
Sunday. |
Ad in
Providence Journal, March 331, 1953, 20: opening tonite for one week. |
|
April |
Charlie Parker Release of Dial
207 10" 33 rpm.
LP Charlie Parker
Sextet Dial LP 207-A Recorded November
4, 1947 My Old Flame Recorded December
17, 1947 Air Conditioning (Drifting on a Reed) Crazeology Bird Feathers (Bongo Beep) Dial LP 207-B: Recorded November 4, 1947 Out of Nowhere Recorded February
5, 1946 Bongo Beep (Diggin’ Diz) Recorded November
4, 1947 Bird Feathers Klactoveedsedstene |
“Progressive Jazz
Albums,” San Francisco Chronicle, April 20, 1952, This World, 17:
Reviews this LP. |
|
April |
Release of Mercury 11088 10” 78 rpm. record Charlie Parker with Strings Recorded January 22, 1952. Mercury 11088 A Temptation Mercury 11088 B Autumn in New York |
Mercury ad in Billboard,
April 19, 1952, 23: lists this record. “Record Reviews: Jazz,” Down Beat, June 18, 1952,
11: Both sides: 2 Stars (fair). Rather negative review. |
|
April 18 |
The Clovers Charlie Parker and His All Star Combo Kenny Dorham (tp);
Charlie Parker (as); Walter Bishop Jr. (p); Teddy Kotick (b); Stan Levey (d). Billy Ford Orchestra Lil Green (voc) Paul White (dance) Bojos (dance) Bob Ephram (tap dance) Howard Theatre,
Washington, DC. April 18-24. |
Ad
in Washington Afro-American, April
15, 1952, 6. “Parker to Headline Howard,” Washington Afro-American, April 15,
1952, 7. K.
Vail, Bird's Diary (1996), 108:
gives date of contract (April 4) and the personnel of the Parker group. No
sources are given. |
|
May 13 |
Charlie Parker Accompanied by a local
band. Later, supplemented by Walter Bishop Jr. and Art Taylor. Times Square Hotel,
Rochester, NY. One week. |
Ad in Democrat
and Chronicle, May 11, 1952, 3F: Parker opening May 13. Ad in Democrat and Chronicle, May 18, 1952,
3F: Last night. Lon Flanagan Jr. in R.
Reisner, Bird: The Legend of Charlie
Parker (1975), 89. Chan Parker (Richardson),
My Life In E-Flat (1993), 36: Tells
a similar story of a Rochester gig with an inefficient piano player. K. Vail, Bird's Diary (1996), 109: dates May
and gives names of the substituting musicians. |
|
May 29 |
Charlie Parker
All-Stars Chet Baker (tp);
Charlie Parker (as); Don Trenner (p); Harry Babasin (b); Lawrence Marable
(d). Harry the Hipster
Trio Tiffany Club, Los
Angeles, CA. May 29–June 14. Booked by the
Shaw Agency. |
Ad in Los Angeles
Times, May 29, 1952, 18: opening tonight: Charlie Parker band; Harry the
Hipster Trio. Ad in Los
Angeles Times, June 13, 1952, 8: Last two Days: Charlie Parker band;
Harry the Hipster Trio. “Bird Flies to
LA’s Tiffany, Down Beat, June 18, 1952, 12. J. Gavin, Deep
in a Dream - The Long Night of Chet Baker (2002), 52 ff.: Here more
details about this engagement can be found. |
|
June 16 |
Harry Babasin All-Stars Chet Baker (tp); Charlie Parker
(as); Sonny Criss (as); Al Haig (p); Russ Freeman (p); Harry Babasin (b);
Lawrence Marable (d). Trade Winds Club, Inglewood,
CA. Private tape recordings exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520616 |
|
June 17 |
Norman Granz Jam Session Charlie Shavers (tp); Benny
Carter, Johnny Hodges, Charlie Parker (as); Ben Webster, Flip Phillips (ts);
Oscar Peterson (p); Barney Kessel (g); Ray Brown (b); J.C. Heard (d). Radio Recorders Studio,
Hollywood. CA. Commercial recordings for
Mercury. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520617 |
|
June 19 |
Charlie
Parker Flip
Philips Replaced by Patsy
Parker Accompanied by Cuz
Cousineau and His Quintet Including Cuz Vince
Cattolica (cl); Kenny Beior (p); Eddie Duran
(g); Unidentified (b); Cuz Cousineau (d). Fred
Skinner Say When Club, San Francisco, CA. June 19–July 3. Booked by the Shaw Agency. There were conflicts concerning the
accompanying local musicians, which made Philips quit after the first week.
Charlie Parker continued and had further severe conflicts, among others
because he announced a contribution for a telethon benefit from the owner,
Dutch Neiman. This led to Parker’s firing. |
“Entertainment,” San
Francisco Chronicle, June 29, 1952, This World, 9: Parker and Philips
open Thursday. Ad in San
Francisco Examiner, June 21, 1952, 30: Announced as Battle of the Saxes –
Philips versus Parker. Ad in San
Francisco Examiner, June 28, 1952, 30: Announced as Battle of the Parkers
– Charlie Parker versus Patsy Parker. “Frisco Alive with Top Jazz Names…”, Down Beat,
July 16, 1952, 13: Gives partly personnel. “Entertainment,” San
Francisco Chronicle, June 29, 1952, This World, 9: Parker closes
Wednesday. “Strictly Ad Lib,” Down Beat, August 13,
1952, 16. Chet. Baker, As Though I Had Wings (1997), 55–57. |
|
June/July |
Jam sessions Charlie Parker (as); Teddy
Edwards (ts); Kenny Drew (p); Curly Russell (b), Art Blakey (d). Bop City, San Francisco, LA. Charlie Parker jams here while
at the Say When Club. |
“On and Off the Record,” San Francisco Chronicle, June 29, 1952, This World, 9: “Parker
has been missing an occasional act in the Say When, but he hasn’t missed many
at that after-hours spot he hits each morning. Jerome Richardson in R. Reisner, Bird: The Legend of Charlie Parker (1975),
192. “Teddy Edwards Interview” Cadence, April 1994, 11: Parker was jamming at Bop City, where
Teddy Edwards was resident. |
|
July |
Charlie Parker Release of
Mercury 11089. 10” 78 rpm.
record. Recorded January
22, 1952. Charlie Parker
with Strings Mercury 11089 A Lover Mercury 11089 B Stella by Starlight |
Mercury ad in Billboard,
July 28, 1952, 45. “Record Reviews:
Rhythm & Blues: Positive review. Ratings: Lover: 79 (good); Stella
by Starlight: 76 (good). “Record Reviews:
Jazz,” Down Beat, September 24, 1952, 13:. Stella by Starlight:
3 stars (good); Lover: 4 stars. (very good). |
|
July early |
Concert Charlie Parker, Vido Musso, and
others. Cerebral Palsy Fund’s telethon
benefit. |
“Strictly
Ad Lib,” Down Beat, August 13, 1952, 16. “Teddy
Edwards Interview” Cadence, April
1994, 11. |
|
July 4? |
Vido Musso Blackhawk, San Francisco, LA. Charlie Parker appears with
Vido Musso on the latter’s opening night at the Blackhawk. He is stuck in San Francisco
without a job. |
K.
Vail, Bird's Diary (1996), 114–15:
letters from Dutch Neiman and A. V. Forbes. |
|
July 15 |
Jam session Chet Baker (tp); Frank
Morgan, Charlie Parker (as); Don Wilkerson (ts); Amos Trice (p); Dave Bryant
(b); Lawrence Marable (d). Jirayr Zorthian’s Ranch,
Altadena, CA. Early morning Private party. Private tape recordings
made by a brother of sculptor Julie MacDonald exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520708 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520714 Peter Losin dates July 8
and 14. K. Vail, Bird's Diary (1996), 113: gives same
dates and has one further session at this place on July 28. This is not true.
Parker was in Kansas City on that date. The correct date seems to
be July 14 after midnight, i.e., early July 15. The circumstances of the
party and the recordings are described in detail in: C. Walker,
"Everybody Got Naked with Charlie 'Bird' Parker at the Wildest Party in
L.A. History," LA Weekly, July
18, 2014. |
|
July 17 |
Charlie Parker accompanied
by Gene Carter's Orchestra Tootie’s
Mayfair, Jackson County, MO. July
17-20. |
Ad
in Kansas City Star, July 16, 1952,
21: Opening Thursday, July 17: Charlie Parker plus Gene Carter's Band. Ad
in Kansas City Star, July 17, 1952,
21: Opening Tonight. Only Parker is mentioned. Ad
in Kansas City Star, July 20, 1952,
4D: Now Playing. Only Parker is mentioned. “On
the Upbeat,” Variety, July 23,
1952, 46: Charlie Parker crew at Tootie’s Mayfair in Jackson County. Ad
in Kansas City Star, July 25, 1952,
21: New Policy: Floor Shows “Ruwe and Louie” and Bobby Jean and the Tedford
Hi-Jinx on rollers. Dancing 9– to Gene Carter's Orchestra. C.
Haddix, Bird –The Life and Music of
Charlie Parker (2013), 143: Haddix states that Charlie Parker had to fly
from the gig in order not to be framed by a female police agent. Haddix’s
source places this story in 1953 and tells that Parker immediately had to fly
from town (Tutty Clarkin: in R. Reisner, Bird:
The Legend of Charlie Parker (1975), 68). This is not consistent with
Parker's succeeding gig at El Capitan. However, as Parker cannot be
documented in Kansas City in 1953, the episode may be from 1952, but not with
such a dramatic outcome as told. |
|
July 22 |
Charlie Parker accompanied
by James "Rev" Beasley Combo El
Capitan, Kansas City, MO. July
22-August 3. 4:00
p.m. matinee performances on July 25, 26, 28, and 31. Radio
KCKN: July 23; 3:30–4:30 p.m.: Session with Clarke: Parker is
interviewed on this program. |
“Running
the Scale,” Kansas City Call, July
25, 1952, 8. Here quoted from C. Haddix, Bird
—The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 143. Haddix has informed me that the first
article has a review of the opening night, which told that misunderstandings
between Parker and the agent caused that Parker did not show up to the
planned Monday afternoon and night shows. Instead, he opened the following
night. It is also mentioned that Jay McShann was sitting in on the opening
night, and that Parker appeared in a KCKN radio interview. “´Yardbird’
Parker Held Over Second Week at the El Capitan,” Kansas City Call, July 25, 1952, ? “Radio Programs,” Kansas City Star, July 23, 1952, 43. |
|
August |
Charlie Parker Release of Bird and Diz. Mercury MG C-512 10” LP. LP re- release of
Mercury 11022, 11058, 11076, and 11082. Bird and Diz Mercury MG C-512 A Recorded July 6, 1950. Bloomdido Melancholy Baby Relaxing with Lee Recorded May 1949 Passport Mercury MG C-512 B Recorded July 6, 1950. Leap Frog An Oscar for Treadwell Recorded May 1949 Visa |
Mercury ad, Billboard,
August 16, 1952, 42: Latest single and album releases. |
|
August 10 |
Charlie Parker Chan and Charlie’s son,
Charles Baird Parker, is born. |
U.S.
Public Records Index, Volume 1: Has a Baird Parker of Lansdale, PA, born
September 15, 1952. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1788 U.S.
Public Records Index, Volume 2: Has a Charles B. Parker of Lansdale, PA, born
August 10, 1952. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1732 August
10 is the commonly accepted date. Robert
Reisner in R. Reisner, Bird: The Legend
of Charlie Parker (1975), 11: Reisner meets Parker for the first time in
New York on a night very close to the birth of Baird. Dates 1953. |
|
August 25 |
Charlie Parker Blue Note, Philadelphia,
PA. August 25–September 7. |
“It’s
Happening Here,” Philadelphia Inquirer,
August 25, 1952, 17: Parker opening at Blue Note tonight. “Rhythm
& Blues Notes,” Billboard,
August 30, 1952, 35. |
|
September |
Charlie Parker Release of Charlie Plays South of the Border Mercury C 513 4 10" 78 rpm. records. Mercury C-513 10" 33 rpm. LP. These recordings were also sold as singles and in a
45 rpm. records edition. Charlie Parker Plays South of the Border 78 rpm. records Mercury 11091 A Recorded March 12, 1951 Tico Tico Mercury 11091 B Recorded January 23, 1952. La Paloma Mercury 11092 A Recorded March 12, 1951. Un Poquito
de Tu Amor Mercury 11092 B Recorded January 23, 1952 Mama Inez Mercury 11093 A Recorded March 12, 1951. My Little
Suede Shoes Mercury 11093 B Recorded January 23, 1952 La Cucaracha Recorded January 23, 1952 Mercury 11094 A Estrellita Mercury 11094 B Begin the
Beguine LP Mercury MG C-513-A Recorded March 12, 1951. Tico Tico Un Poquito
de Tu Amor My Little
Suede Shoes Recorded January 23, 1952. Estralita Mercury MG C-513-B Recorded January 23, 1952. Beguine the
Beguine La Paloma La
Cucaracha Mama Inez |
Ad for National Records Marts, Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, September 23, 1952, 26: Lists the 4 10” 78 rpm. album as
well as the 10" LP as belonging to the Clef series. “Reviews of This Week’s New Records: Hot Jazz,” Billboard,
December 13, 1952, 36: Review of Mercury 11091 as a single. Rating: La
Paloma: 74 (good): Tico Tico: 72 (good). “Reviews of This Week’s New Records: Hot Jazz,”
Billboard, January 3, 1953, 24: Review of Mercury 11093 as a single.
Rating: La Cucaracha: 76 (good); My Little Suede Shoes: 73. (good) States that it is from Parker’s new
album. “Reviews of This Week’s New Records: Hot Jazz,” Billboard,
January 3, 1953, 24: Review of the single. Rating: Begin the Beguine: 77
(good); Estrellita: 72 (good). States
it is from Parker’s new album. “Record Reviews: Jazz,” Down Beat, February
25, 1953, 13:. Album rating: 3 stars (good). Mixed reception. |
|
September 12 |
Charlie Parker Excursion boat SS Peter
Stuyvesant, NY. September 12, 1952. |
K. Vail, Bird’s
Diary (1996), 114: no source is given. |
|
September mid |
Charlie Parker Charlie Parker files
charges at AFM against owner of club Say When, Dutch Neiman, for not paying
for the last 3 days of his engagement. The process between Parker and Neiman
continues during October. |
K. Vail, Bird’s
Diary (1996), 114—15: transcriptions of correspondence concerning the
conflict are given. |
|
September 21 |
Ray Abrams/Tony Scott Charlie Parker Charlie Parker (as); Duke
Jordan (p); Charles Mingus (b); Phil Brown (d). Terry Gibbs/Don Elliott/Phil Urso Birdland, New York, NY. (September 20 after
midnight). WJZ broadcast, 12:00
p.m.: Birdland Show. Bob Garrity (mc). Recordings off the air
exist.: Ray Abrams/Tony Scott; Charlie Parker; Terry Gibbs/Don Elliott/Phil
Urso. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520920 Boris
Rose's Birdland Book. “Radio
Highlights,” Brooklyn Eagle,
September 21, 1952, 13. “Goings
on About Town,” New Yorker,
September 20, 1952, 8: On the regular bill in this week was Terry Gibbs. Ray
Abrams and Tony Scott who also appear in this broadcast may also have been on
the bill in this week or for the weekend. The Parker performance was probably
a sitting-in event. There are no indications that Parker had regained his
Cabaret Card. |
|
September 26 |
Charlie Parker with Strings and Quintet Charlie
Parker (as), unidentified oboe, Teddy Blume (v), 3 strings, harp, Walter
Bishop Jr. (p); Mundell Lowe (g), Teddy Kotick (b), Max Roach (d). Paul Robeson Rockland
Palace, NYC, NY. 10 p.m.–3 a.m. September
26, 1952. “Free
Ben Davis” benefit ball. There
exist at least two independent and partly overlapping sets of tape recordings
from this event. Chan Parker (Richardson) produced one of them. |
Ad
in New York Amsterdam News,
September 20, 1952, 25. Chan
Parker (Richardson), My Life In E-Flat
(1993), 33: Gives personnel of rhythm group and tells about the recording
situation. Mentions the presence of Paul Robeson, who is not mentioned in the
NYPL ad. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=520926 |
|
October 18 |
Concert Charlie Parker Zoot Sims Kai Winding Don Lamond Charlie Walp (tp); Earl
Swope (tb); Bill Shanahan (p); Charlie
Byrd (g); Merton Oliver (b); Don Lamond (d); Unidentified (bgo). Howard Theater,
Washington, DC. (October 17 after midnight). Willis Conover (prod). Jazz at Midnite. Private recordings exist. |
Ad
in Washington Afro-American,
October 15, 1952, 6. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=521018 |
|
November 2 |
Dave Brubeck Quartet Slim Gaillard Milt Jackson Quintet Charlie Parker Acc. by Milt Jackson
Quartet. Charlie Parker (as); Milt
Jackson (vib); John Lewis (p); Percy Heath (b); Kenny Clarke (d). Birdland, New York, NY. (November
1 after midnight): WJZ
broadcast, 12:00 p.m.: Birdland Show. Bob Garrity (mc). Dave Brubeck; Slim Gaillard. Recordings
off the air exist: Dave Brubeck; Slim Gaillard;
Milt Jackson Quartet; Charlie Parke and Milt Jackson Quartet. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=521101 Boris
Rose’s Birdland Book. “Radio
Highlights,” Brooklyn Eagle,
November 1, 1952, 13. “Goings
on About Town,” New Yorker,
November 1, 1952, 6: On the regular bill in this week were Dave Brubeck Quartet
and Slim Gaillard Trio. The Milt Jackson Quartet, which appears in this
broadcast, may also have been on the bill in this week or for the weekend.
The Parker performance was probably a sitting-in event. There are no
indications that Parker had regained his Cabaret Card. |
|
November 14 |
Concert Duke Ellington and His Orchestra Incl. Louis Bellson (d). Billie Holiday Charlie Parker with Strings Charlie Parker (as);
unidentified oboe; Teddy Blume and 2 unidentified (v); unidentified (viola); unidentified
(harp), Walter Bishop Jr. (p); Walter Yost (b); Roy Haynes (d). Dizzy Gillespie Stan Getz Sextet Ahmad Jamal Trio Carnegie Hall, NYC. 8:15 and 11:45 p.m. (2
concerts). Bob Garrity, mc. Patricia Music: Morris
and Pat Levy (prod). Recordings exist. |
Ad in New York Amsterdam News, November 11,
1952, 33. “Ellington, Eckstine
Almost Trip Each Other at Carnegie, But Not at B.O,” Variety, November 19, 1952, 45. “Duke
Scores at Carnegie,” Billboard,
November 22, 1952, 44. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=521114a https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=521114b Phil
Schaap (WKCR) has told me that NBC engineer Arthur Kauffman contacted him in 1985,
telling that he recorded both concerts for NBC. It has been supposed that at
least one of them was broadcast, but I have not been able to identify such a
broadcast in radio logs. Boris Rose’s Birdland Book list recordings by Gillespie/Ellington, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, and Ahmad Jamal. |
|
November 16 |
Concert Orchestra 39 pieces including:
Charlie Parker, Oscar Pettiford, Terry Gibbs, and Don Elliott. The Dictators (dance trio) Philadelphia Metropolitan
Theatre, Philadelphia, PA. |
”Izzy Rowe’s Notebook,” Pittsburgh Courier, October 25, 1952,
17. |
|
November 21 |
Dinah Washington Bill Bailey All American Jazz Stars Miles Davis (tp); Charlie
Parker (as); Milt Jackson (vib); Beryl Booker (p); James Tillman (g); Keeter
Betts (b); Jimmy Cobb (d). The Royals (vocal) The 2 Zephyrs (dance) The Congeroos (dance) Earle Theater,
Philadelphia, PA. November 21-27. |
Ad
in Philadelphia Inquirer, November
21, 1952, 28: Opens today. “Bill
Bailey at the Earle,” Philadelphia
Inquirer, November 22, 1952, 10. Ad
in Philadelphia Inquirer, November
27, 1952, 21: Last day. |
|
November 21 |
Concert Billie Holiday, Charlie
Parker, Bill Harris, Kai Winding, Chubby Jackson, Oscar Pettiford, and Gil
Turner (boxing contender doing a dance performance). Philadelphia Metropolitan
Theatre, Philadelphia, PA. Jimmy Mundy, Herb Gordy
(prod). |
”Izzy Rowe’s Notebook,” Pittsburgh Courier, November 22, 1952,
17. K. Vail, Bird’s
Diary (1996), 115: Has Herb Gordy produced concert at Philadelphia
Metropolitan on October 21, 1952, which clearly is a wrong date. K.
Vail, Bird’s Diary (1996), 156: A
letter From Gordy to AFM concerning the lacking payment to Parker, has the
date November 21 for this concert. As
Parker was opening at the Earle on the same day, he must have been doubling. |
|
November 27 |
Concert Duke Ellington Orchestra,
Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and others. The Gardens, Pittsburgh,
PA. 2 concerts, 8:30
and midnight. Patricia Music: Morris
and Pat Levy (prod). These concerts were
probably not realized. |
“Duke
Scores at Carnegie,” Billboard,
November 22, 1952, 44. “The
Drama Desk,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
November 15, 1952, 20. These
articles mention plans for this concert. I have found no other traces of such
a concert. |
|
December 5 |
Concert Charlie Parker Milt Buckner Trio Paul Williams Al Hibbler Milt Buckner (org);
Bernie McKay (g); Cornelius Thomas (d). Springfield Auditorium,
Springfield, NY. 9 p.m.–1 a.m. |
Ad
in Springfield Union, December 5,
1952, 22. |
|
December 7 |
Concert Charlie Parker and His Band Joe Loco & His Muchachos Locos Hunt’s Point Palace,
Bronx, New York, NY. |
K.
Vail, Bird’s Diary (1996), 117: Ad
is shown. No source is given. K.
Vail, Bird’s Diary (1996), 144: This
gig is mentioned in a letter from Parker to AFM dated January 11, 1954.
Parker mistakenly dates it December 7, 1953. |
|
December 8 |
Charlie Parker
Quintet Joe Gordon (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Dick Twardzik
(p); Charlie Mingus (b); Roy Haynes (d). Hi-Hat, Boston, MA. December 8–14, 1952. December 14: WHMS 3:00–400 pm.
Symphony Sid (mc). Recordings exist. |
Ad in Boston Daily
Record, December 8, 1952, 48: Tonite Thru Sunday: Charlie Parker. December 8–14, 1952: WMBS
3–4 pm: Symphony Sid. Symphony Sid states that
it is the last day of the engagement. Closing the broadcast the station announcer states that it is a
Sunday afternoon edition of the Symphony Sid Show, brought every Sunday. The
shows on the other days seem to have been DJ shows. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=521214 |
|
December 8 |
Jam Session Joe Gordon? (tp); Charlie Parker (as); unidentified?
(ts); Dick Twarzdick? (p); Charlie Mingus (b); Roy Haynes? (d). Christy’s, Framingham, MA. In the period December 8-14. A recording exists. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=521208 This track was first issued on the LP, The Happy Bird,
Parker Records PLP-4-S, which has material from Christy’s from an earlier
period. The presence of Charlie Mingus indicates that this track comes from
the present period. I have not
found any nightly broadcasts from the Hi-Hat here, so it cannot be from
another Hi-Hat broadcast. . |
|
December 10 |
Billie Holiday Tony Scott? (cl); Buster
Harding (p); Billie Holiday (voc); Johnny Hodges Orchestra. Apollo Theater, New York, NY. Unidentified broadcast.
Unidentified (mc). Recordings exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=521200 A closing fragment of Mop Mop,
on which the announcer comments on the entrance of Billie Holiday and
afterwards announces Tenderly, is believed to have Charlie Parker and
Dizzy Gillespie. Listening to the track, I do not hear identifiable Parker
and/or Gillespie statements. B. Priestley, Chasin’ the
Bird (2006), 185: places this track as coming from the November 14
Carnegie Hall Concert, which opens up for Parker and Gillespie’s
participation. K. Vail, Lady Day’s Diary
(1996), 149: mentions Tenderly and My Man as coming from an
Apollo broadcast and having Buster Harding (p) and Tony Scott (cl). There is no doubt that the Tenderly track in
question is identical with the one on the ESP edition, Billie Holiday,
Broadcast Performances - vol. 1 (ESP 3002), which is supposed to be from
the Apollo Theater December 10, 1952. If true Parker is out of the question.
He was appearing in Boston on this date. |
|
December late |
Stan Getz Quintet Charlie Parker
Quintet Charlie Parker (as); unidentified accompaniment; Al
Hibbler (voc). |
“Rhythm and Blues
Notes,” Billboard, November 15,
1952, 60: Shaw Artist will send out a new jazz package during the Christmas
season consisting of Stan Getz Quintet, Charlie Parker Quintet, and Al
Hibbler. I have found no indications that this tour was
realized. |
|
December 30 |
Charlie Parker Quartet Charlie Parker (as); Hank Jones
(p); Teddy Kotick (b); Max Roach (d). Unidentified recording studio,
New York, NY. Commercial recordings for
Mercury. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=521230 |
|
December 31 |
Down Beat 1952 Band
Poll Combo-Instrumental 22. Charlie Parker Alto Sax 1: Charlie Parker 2: Art Pepper 3. Lee Konitz 4. Johnny Hodges 5. Willie Smith |
“Kenton, shearing Win Again…” Down Beat, December 31,
1952, 1, 8, 9. |