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Charlie Parker session details

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June 6, 1945 (12 items; TT = 43:10)
WOR Studio, New York NY
Commercial for Comet

Charlie Parker (as); J.B. "Dizzy" Gillespie (tpt); Flip Phillips [Joseph Filipelli] (ts); Red Norvo [Kenneth Norville] (vb); Teddy Wilson (p); Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart (b); Gordon "Specs" Powell (d); J.C. Heard (d)

1 Hallelujah (take 1) (C. Grey-L. Robin-V. Youmans) 4:06
2 Hallelujah (take 2) (C. Grey-L. Robin-V. Youmans) 4:00
3 Hallelujah (take 3 (master)) (C. Grey-L. Robin-V. Youmans) 3:56
4 Get Happy (take 1) (H. Arlen-T. Koehler) 3:56
5 Get Happy (take 2 (master)) (H. Arlen-T. Koehler) 3:43
6 Slam Slam Blues (take 1) (R. Norvo) 5:02
7 Slam Slam Blues (take 2 (master)) (R. Norvo) 4:28
8 Congo Blues (take 1 (inc)) (C. Parker) 1:04
9 Congo Blues (take 2 (inc)) (C. Parker) 1:14
10 Congo Blues (take 3) (C. Parker) 3:56
11 Congo Blues (take 4) (C. Parker) 3:51
12 Congo Blues (take 5 (master)) (C. Parker) 3:54


1 Hallelujah (take 1)
12" LP: Dial LP 903, Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

2 Hallelujah (take 2)
78 rpm: Dial 1045
12" LP: Spotlite SPJ 105
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

3 Hallelujah (take 3 (master))
78 rpm: Comet T6
12" LP: Dial LP 903, Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

4 Get Happy (take 1)
78 rpm: Dial 1035
12" LP: Dial LP 903, Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

5 Get Happy (take 2 (master))
78 rpm: Comet T7
12" LP: Dial LP 903, Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

6 Slam Slam Blues (take 1)
78 rpm: Dial 1045
12" LP: Dial LP 903, Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

7 Slam Slam Blues (take 2 (master))
78 rpm: Comet T6
12" LP: Dial LP 903, Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

8 Congo Blues (take 1 (inc))
12" LP: Dial LP 903, Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

9 Congo Blues (take 2 (inc))
12" LP: Dial LP 903, Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

10 Congo Blues (take 3)
12" LP: Dial LP 903, Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

11 Congo Blues (take 4)
78 rpm: Dial 1035
12" LP: Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

12 Congo Blues (take 5 (master))
78 rpm: Comet T7
12" LP: Dial LP 903, Spotlite SPJ 127
CD: Toshiba/Spotlite TOCJ 0001/10, Philology Volume 15 (W 845), Masters of Jazz MJCD 113, Stash STB-2514, Mosaic MD9-260, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332


The first take of "Congo Blues" breaks down in the middle of Parker's solo; the second, after he finishes his solo. There are some helpful liner notes included in the Stash release of this music. According to these notes, there were fifteen complete takes recorded at this session, but the original Comet masters no longer exist. Thanks to Bryan Reid for sending me a copy of these notes.

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