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Charlie Parker session details

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February 18, 1950 (24 items; TT = 63:07)
St. Nicholas Arena, New York NY
Private recording (Tape) (C+)

Charlie Parker (as); Red Rodney [Robert Chudnick] (tpt); Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Roy Haynes (d)
1 Ornithology (incomplete) (C. Parker-B. Harris) 3:26

During his solo Parker quotes "Why Was I Born?" (1:33-1:39) and "Poinciana" (1:51-1:55). Splice at 2:18 to Parker/Rodney exchanges, closing theme
2 I Didn't Know What Time It Was (R. Rodgers-L. Hart) 2:34

"Country Gardens" tag, 2:28-2:34
3 Embraceable You (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin) 2:16

"Country Gardens" tag with extended trill, 2:09-2:16
4 Scrapple from the Apple (incomplete) (C. Parker) 4:38

Splice at 3:20 to Parker/Rodney exchanges, closing theme
5 Hot House (incomplete) (T. Dameron) 3:45
6 Now's the Time (C. Parker) 4:15

Parker quotes "Woody Woodpecker" in his exchanges with Rodney (3:03-3:09)
7 Visa (incomplete) (C. Parker) 2:57

Splice at 1:45 to Parker/Rodney exchanges, closing theme
8 Star Eyes (incomplete) (D. Raye-G. DePaul-P. Johnston) 3:00

Parker quotes "Pop Goes the Weasel" at 2:21-2:23
9 52nd Street Theme (T. Monk) 0:05
10 Confirmation (incomplete) (C. Parker) 3:13
11 Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman-J.W. Green) 2:17

"Country Gardens" tag with extended trill, 2:06-2:16
12 I Cover the Waterfront (incomplete) (E. Heyman-J.W. Green) 1:44
13 What's New? (incomplete) (J. Burke-B. Haggart) 2:43

Splice at 1:41
14 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (J. Kern-O. Harbach) 3:34

"Country Gardens" tag, 3:28-3:34
15 52nd Street Theme (T. Monk) 1:11
16 52nd Street Theme (T. Monk) 3:25
17 Wahoo [Perdido] (T. Dameron) 3:25
18 I Can't Get Started (incomplete) (V. Duke-I. Gershwin) 1:16

Cut off near the end of Parker solo
19 52nd Street Theme (incomplete) (T. Monk) 2:56

Begins mid-Parker solo
20 Anthropology (incomplete) (D. Gillespie-C. Parker) 2:14

Begins during opening theme; cut off after Parker solo
21 52nd Street Theme (T. Monk) 0:31
22 Groovin' High (D. Gillespie-F. Paparelli) 4:26
23 52nd Street Theme (T. Monk) 0:24

Very fast tempo
24 Cheryl (C. Parker) 2:52

1 Ornithology (incomplete)
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

2 I Didn't Know What Time It Was
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

3 Embraceable You
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

4 Scrapple from the Apple (incomplete)
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

5 Hot House (incomplete)
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

6 Now's the Time
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

7 Visa (incomplete)
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

8 Star Eyes (incomplete)
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

9 52nd Street Theme
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

10 Confirmation (incomplete)
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

11 Out of Nowhere
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

12 I Cover the Waterfront (incomplete)
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

13 What's New? (incomplete)
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

14 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

15 52nd Street Theme
12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009
CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337

16 52nd Street Theme
12" LP: Zim ZL 1007
CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633

17 Wahoo
12" LP: Zim ZL 1007
CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633

18 I Can't Get Started (incomplete)
12" LP: Zim ZL 1007
CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633

19 52nd Street Theme (incomplete)
12" LP: Zim ZL 1007
CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633

20 Anthropology (incomplete)
12" LP: Zim ZL 1007
CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633

21 52nd Street Theme
12" LP: Zim ZL 1007
CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633

22 Groovin' High
12" LP: Zim ZL 1007
CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633

23 52nd Street Theme
12" LP: Zim ZL 1007
CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633

24 Cheryl
12" LP: Zim ZL 1007
CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633

This is another recording by Don Lanphere: poor fidelity, and Parker solos and exchanges only on most items. Despite the poor quality and clumsy (and sometimes perverse) editing, there is some vintage Parker on these tunes.

Within a month or two of this date the Parker Quintet was booked at Philadelphia's Showboat Lounge, and Don Lanphere or Jimmy Knepper recorded that session. According to Jazz Review (December 2004), a tape exists at the Library of Congress which includes "Rhythm-a-ning," "'Round Midnight," "Cool Blues," "East of the Sun," "Crazeology," "Visa," "Donna Lee," "Barbados," "52nd Street Theme," and "Perdido." It has not surfaced, as far as I know.

Thanks to John Griffin for help with this session.

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