Session details: Band Box (March 30, 1953)

Charlie Parker session details

March 30, 1953 (10 items; TT = 21:13)

Band Box, New York NY

WMGM-AM radio broadcast (B)

Show chatter

Charlie Parker (as); Walter Bishop Jr. (p); Kenny O'Brien (b); Roy Haynes (d); Leonard Feather (ann); Bob Garrity (ann)

1	Caravan (with introduction) (D. Ellington-J. Tizol-I. Mills)	1:08
	Voiceover from 0:08: BG: "It's Charlie Parker inviting you to join our night ride on the Jazz Caravan... From the Bandbox, ladies and gentlemen, on Broadway between 51st and 52nd Street, it's the music of Charlie Parker and his fine group coming your way for the next few minutes. Yes, a lot of good music, and it's only the beginning of the Jazz Caravan. The greatest jazz stars in the world are going to be appearing for the next couple of hours: Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, Georgia Carr, Marian McPartland and the Trio, Johnny Bubbles, and then there's Vin Strong and Tiny Davis, all coming your way with a lot of good music. And now, ladies and gentlemen, (Parker starts playing "Cool Blues," which runs until the end of the announcement, 0:21-0:40) the co-editor of Downbeat magazine, Mr. Leonard Feather. Let's give him a big welcome..." LF: "Thanks Bob. And once again for all you jazz fans, greetings and modulations. We'll introduce the members individually in a moment, but first, Charlie Parker and the group and their first number, 'Star Eyes'..."
2	Star Eyes (D. Raye-G. DePaul-P. Johnston)	4:37
3	My Little Suede Shoes (with introduction) (C. Parker)	0:44
	Voiceover throughout: "Well I don't have to tell you about the leader of the group, Charlie Parker, of course, the great modern style-setter and pace-maker on the alto saxophone; but I do have to tell you about the men with him tonight. They are Walter Bishop, Jr. at the piano -- very talented pianist, son of the very well-known and equally talented songwriter father. And on drums, a young gentleman who's been with Charlie on and off for quite a while, Roy Haynes, and on bass, Kenny O'Brien. Now here comes a number that Charlie, with Dizzy, originated and recorded quite a few years ago out on the coast, it's Charlie's composition, a very famous one in bop circles, 'Ornithology'..."
4	Ornithology (C. Parker-B. Harris)	4:53
	Parker and Haynes exchanges following Bishop's solo (3:10-4:19); the "How High the Moon" melody is used during the closing chorus
5	52nd Street Theme (with announcement) (T. Monk)	0:51
	Voiceover from 0:08: BG: "Ladies and gentlemen, we just wanna tell you some big news right now, before we do anything else. Beginning April the third, of course that's next Friday night, Mr. B, Billy Eckstine, will be here at the Bandbox with one of the greatest shows in the land. And along with him, Count Basie and his Orchestra, and Dave Brubeck and the Quartet. So remember the opening night, April the third, for Mr. B, Billy Eckstine, a great, great star coming in here to the Bandbox. So try to get down to the Bandbox as soon as you can and right now Machito, Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, Sonny Stitt, all appearing here with a lot of wonderful entertainment. The Bandbox is easy to get to, you know, between 52nd and 53rd Street, right on Broadway in the heart of Manhattan. So get to the Bandbox and the best evening of music in the land..."
6	Interview (Feather, Parker)	0:40
	LF: "Hey Bob, I was talking to Charlie Parker over there, and trying to figure out what's coming up next. This number has quite a little history, I believe, it's listed here as "Dynamo A," Charlie, but I think it is, I remember it as 'Dizzy Atmosphere' on a record you made with Dizzy quite a few years ago." CP: "No, Leonard, it wasn't 'Dizzy Atmosphere'..." LF: "Am I wrong?" CP: "It's not the same record at all. This is a thing they recorded in Los Angeles quite a few years ago, it's a satire of the tune 'Lover', and..." LF: "Oh yes, I remember now..." CP: "That's right, 'Dynamo A' and 'Dynamo B'..." LF:" Well, let's hear 'Dynamo A'..." CP: "Or would you like to hear 'Dynamo B'?" LF: "Well I'm not quite sure which is which, so maybe I can figure..." CP: "Well, I'll try to give you an example then." LF: "OK, let's go. Charlie Parker All-Stars and 'Dynamo A'..."
7	Dynamo A [Diggin' Diz] (D. Gillespie)	4:14
	Parker plays the "Lover" melody at the bridge of the closing chorus (3:39-3:55)
8	52nd Street Theme (with announcement) (T. Monk)	0:35
	Voiceover from 0:10: LF: "Charlie, I would like it very, very much at this point if you could give us, give a version of an old standard that you recorded a few years ago, George Gershwin's 'Embraceable You' -- would that be possible at this point?" CP: "At this point, Leonard, I don't see how I can refuse you." LF: "Well, wonderful, let's hear it..."
9	Embraceable You (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)	3:12
	Parker plays the "Country Gardens" closing tag (3:01-3:10)
10	52nd Street Theme (with closing announcement) (T. Monk)	0:19
	Voiceover from 0:09: "Wonderful music coming your way by Charlie Parker, from the Bandbox. You know the Jazz Caravan is presented from 12 to 2 every Sunday night, bringing you plenty of good jazz music, all the great stars in the jazz field..."


1 Caravan (with introduction) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 19, Klacto MG 100 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3016, Sound Hills SSCD 8032, Philology Volume 21 (W 851), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88667
2 Star Eyes 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 19, Klacto MG 100 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3016, Sound Hills SSCD 8032, Philology Volume 21 (W 851), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88667
3 My Little Suede Shoes (with introduction) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 19, Klacto MG 100 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3016, Sound Hills SSCD 8032, Philology Volume 21 (W 851), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88667
4 Ornithology 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 19, Klacto MG 100 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3016, Sound Hills SSCD 8032, Philology Volume 21 (W 851), Volume 59 (W 809), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88667
5 52nd Street Theme (with announcement) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 19, Klacto MG 100 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3016, Sound Hills SSCD 8032, Philology Volume 21 (W 851), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88667
6 Interview (Feather, Parker) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 19, Klacto MG 100 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3016, Sound Hills SSCD 8032, Philology Volume 21 (W 851), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88667
7 Dynamo A 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 19, Klacto MG 100 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3016, Sound Hills SSCD 8032, Philology Volume 21 (W 851), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88667
8 52nd Street Theme (with announcement) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 19, Klacto MG 100 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3016, Sound Hills SSCD 8032, Philology Volume 21 (W 851), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88667
9 Embraceable You 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 19, Klacto MG 100 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3016, Sound Hills SSCD 8032, Philology Volume 21 (W 851), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88667
10 52nd Street Theme (with closing announcement) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 19, Klacto MG 100 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3016, Sound Hills SSCD 8032, Philology Volume 21 (W 851), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88667

This is from a Jazz Caravan broadcast. These are sad numbers -- Parker's playing is weak and relatively uninspired throughout, and he has trouble with themes. Bishop plays well, however, especially on "Embraceable You."

"Dynamo A" and "Dynamo B" were working titles of Gillespie-Parker tunes from 1946. Dial 1001 purports to include both, but it's really two takes of "Dizzy Atmosphere" recorded by a Gillespie group at Electro Broadcast Studio in February 1946. The tune Parker plays here was issued on Dial as "Diggin' Diz" -- it may be that Ross Russell confused the tunes and put the "Dynamo A" label on the wrong one. The real "Dynamo B" sounds like "Confirmation."