Session details: Billy Berg's Club (December 17, 1945)

Charlie Parker session details

December 17, 1945 (9 items; TT = 14:21)

Billy Berg's Club, Hollywood CA

Unknown radio broadcast (C)

Show chatter

Charlie Parker (as); J.B. "Dizzy" Gillespie (tpt); Milt Jackson (vb); Al Haig (p); Ray Brown (b); Stan Levey (d); Bulee "Slim" Gaillard (g, voc); Tiny "Bam" Brown (b); Arthur "Zutty" Singleton (d); Harry "The Hipster" Gibson (p, voc); Billy Berg (ann)

1	Cement Mixer (S. Gaillard)	2:56
	Slim Gaillard
2	Announcement (Slim Gaillard)	0:37
	Gaillard announces the Gillespie band, mentions "Shaw 'Nuff," but this is apparently missing
3	Unknown Title (incomplete)	0:26
4	Introduction (Slim Gaillard and Harry the Hipster)	0:48
	Slim Gaillard raps with Harry the Hipster
5	Harry the Hipster Theme (incomplete) (H. Gibson)	3:25
	Harry "The Hipster" Gibson
6	Announcement (Slim Gaillard)	0:08
	"Dizzy Gillespie and his Orchestra, yours truly the Slim Gaillard Trio..."
7	I Waited for You (W.G. Fuller)	0:35
	Incomplete (0:11) on Philology
8	How High the Moon (incomplete) (N. Hamilton-M. Lewis)	3:32
9	52nd Street Theme (incomplete) (T. Monk)	1:54
	Parker quotes "Sly Mongoose" (0:58-1:02) and "Tico Tico" (1:12-1:15)
	Billy Berg closes with "Folks, don't forget: if you can't come in, just tune in..."


1 Cement Mixer 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Philology Volume 73 (W 904)
2 Announcement (Slim Gaillard) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Philology Volume 73 (W 904)
3 Unknown Title (incomplete) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Philology Volume 73 (W 904)
4 Introduction (Slim Gaillard and Harry the Hipster) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Philology Volume 73 (W 904)
5 Harry the Hipster Theme (incomplete) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Philology Volume 73 (W 904)
6 Announcement (Slim Gaillard) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Philology Volume 62 (W 893), Volume 73 (W 904)
7 I Waited for You 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Definitive Records DRCD 11250, Philology Volume 62 (W 893), Volume 73 (W 904), Definitive DRCD 11250, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88642
8 How High the Moon (incomplete) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Definitive Records DRCD 11250, Philology Volume 73 (W 904), Definitive DRCD 11250, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88642, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332
9 52nd Street Theme (incomplete) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Definitive Records DRCD 11250, Philology Volume 73 (W 904), Definitive DRCD 11250, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88642, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1332

The sound quality is very poor throughout, but there's a full Parker and Jackson solo on "How High the Moon" (faded out during Gillespie solo). Parker's solo on "52nd Street Theme" is intact, but not much else.

The engagement at Billy Berg's Club lasted from December 10 until February 3, 1946. After it finished, Parker stayed in California while the rest of the group returned to New York.

I am grateful to John Burton and Brandon Cohen for help with this session.