Session details: Apollo Theater (August 23, 1950)

Charlie Parker session details

August 23, 1950 (4 items; TT = 6:27)

Apollo Theater, New York NY

WMCA-AM radio broadcast (B)

Show chatter

Charlie Parker (as); Tommy Mace (oboe); Billy Taylor (p); Tommy Potter (b); Roy Haynes (d); Wallace McManus (harp); Teddy Blume (vln); Sam Caplan (vln); Stan Karpenia (vln); Dave Uchitel (vla); Bill Bundy (cello); Sarah Vaughan (voc); Willie Bryant (ann)

1	Interview (Bryant and Parker)	1:08
	MC: "We have two headliners at the theatre -- I'd like to bring them both to you tonight. First: the Bird, Charlie Parker... Charlie? This is Parker with Strings... Charlie, welcome back; it's nice having you with us." CP: "Hello, it's good to be back." MC: "You've got quite a different aggregation with you this time, haven't you?" CP: "Yes, I have some bits have changed." MC: "Uh-huh. A full string section back there, including cello and viola and even a harp, right?" CP: "That's right." MC: "Whatcha gonna do?" CP: "I think we'll do a tune of Jimmy Mundy's entitled 'Easy to Love'..." MC: "'Easy to Love' -- I'll tell ya what, if you will, if you'll tell the audience a little something about it, I'm gonna move back there and get that mic of ours centered so we can pick up the strings, all right?" CP: "All right... This was an idea of mine from a few years ago, about seven, eight months ago I was lucky enough to record it, on the Mercury label. Six sides were released in an album. We're not gonna do any of those sides; instead we'll do a tune that was arranged by the inimitable Jimmy Mundy. We sincerely hope you enjoy 'Easy to Love'..."
2	Easy to Love (C. Porter)	2:00
3	Introduction (Bryant and Vaughan)	1:07
	"There you have Parker with Strings -- Charlie Parker and the string group, 'Easy to Love'... It wasn't very, very many years ago that a very scared young lady stepped out on this stage introduced as the next on a list of amateurs, and I think one of the most thrilling experiences I've ever had in a... few years in this business was seeing the young lady wrap this house up, put it in her packet, and walk right off with it. The young lady then, the young lady today... the gone Miss Vaughan. Sarah Vaughan. One of my favorite people of all time. Sarah, welcome back to the Apollo." SV: "Well, I'm so glad to be here." MC: "Uh-huh. We're always glad to have you here. Pretty dress, too." SV: "Thank you." MC: "Saw a pretty dress you were wearing before, too." SV: "Thank you." MC: "Uh-huh. Who picks 'em out?" SV: "Me." MC: "Oh, you... Miss Vaughan has at the moment probably the biggest record she's ever had on the Columbia label. Believe me, it's a gone side; and Sarah, I don't think there's anything else you can sing tonight other than 'I Love the Guy'..."
4	I Love the Guy (C. Coben-J. Warrington)	2:12
	Vaughan with unknown group, no Parker


1 Interview (Bryant and Parker) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9, Columbia JC-34832 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Sony SRCS 7096
2 Easy to Love 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9, Columbia JC-34832 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Sony SRCS 7096

These items may belong among the August 17-23 Apollo items taped by Jimmy Knepper et al., but they were broadcast by WMCA. For some reason Symphony Sid Torin is missing, and Willie Bryant, master of ceremonies at the Apollo in the early 1950s, takes his place.

I am grateful to Leif Bo Petersen and Chieo Yamada for help with this session.