Session details: Streets of Paris (March 31, 1946)

Miles Ahead session details

March 31, 1946 (4 items; TT = 25:36)

Streets of Paris, Los Angeles CA

KXLA radio broadcast (B)

Show chatter

Miles Davis (tpt); Al Grey (tb); Benny Carter (as); Hubert "Bumps" Myers (ts); James Cannady (g); Sonny White (p); Thomas Moultrie (b); Percy Brice (d); Fred Shields (ann); Ted Yerxa (ann)

1	Just You, Just Me (inc) (R. Klages-J. Greer)	8:00
	Solos: Myers ("yessir, that was Hu... Sir Hubert Myers. Sir Hubert...", 1:53); Davis ("trumpet man Miles Davis...", 3:04); Cannady ("that's our man Jimmy Cannady. And now, Benny Carter...", 4:15); Carter; Grey (fade to splice at 4:57, "trombone, that's Al", 6:07); White ("piano man Sonny White", 7:18)
2	Announcement	0:57
	Fragment (first 0:08) on issued versions
	Shields: "'Just You, Just Me' -- Benny Carter and his band... Jazz Session time at the Streets of Paris, it carries on till six o'clock. And now Ted?" Yerxa: "Well Fred, we might at this time ask, uh, mention him to step forward and, uh, in appreciation of his fine, fine efforts in our behalf during the war time -- remember those Coast Guard shows, Benny?" Carter: "Sure was a lot of fun, Ted..." Yerxa: "Yes sir, well, it was a lot of music, you know? I just wonder how good can a band be, anyway? But here is your... trophy, and, uh, in appreciation of your efforts, and thank you very, very much." Carter: "Oh, thank you, thanks very much, Ted." Yerxa: "Well, uh, that'll take its little small niche alongside that fine... mellow, gold, number one award winner of Esquire. Benny, I certainly want to congratulate you in public and over the air for being the number one alto saxophonist of the world." Carter: "Thank you very much. (Applause) Thank you... Thank you..." Carter calls for "Don't Blame Me"
3	Don't Blame Me (inc) (D. Fields-J. McHugh)	9:04
	Shields: "'Don't Blame Me' he says, in D flat..." (laughter) Yerxa: "Shields would know better than to keep out of flats..." during piano intro. Solos: Grey; White; Myers; Davis (solo begins at 5:08; fade to splice at 5:55; solo continues until 6:05); Carter; Cannady
4	Sweet Georgia Brown (inc) (B. Bernie-M. Pinkard-K. Casey)	7:35
	Solos: Carter; Myers; Moultrie (fade to splice at 4:57); Cannady; Davis (solo begins at 5:28, continues to the end). Voiceover closing announcement (beginning at 6:55): "From the Streets of Paris, 6726 Hollywood Blvd, Lamplighter Jazz Session time, featuring that amazing man of music, Benny Carter and his band. Next week here at the Streets of Paris on our Jazz Session, we honor that band man Buddy Rich, drummer and singer too nowadays, currently appearing at the Hollywood Palladium. Benny Carter and his boys, of course, appeared on our program through the courtesy of the Trianon in Southgate, where their band currently appears. Ted, anything else?" Ted: "Yes, we've got Azat... Artie Shapiro will be here on bass along with Buddy Rich -- and Fred, I know what I want Santy Claus to bring me next year..."


1 Just You, Just Me (inc) CD: Masters of Jazz MJCD 151, FAP 001/3
2 Announcement CD: Masters of Jazz MJCD 151, FAP 001/3
3 Don't Blame Me (inc) CD: Masters of Jazz MJCD 151, FAP 001/3
4 Sweet Georgia Brown (inc) CD: Masters of Jazz MJCD 151, FAP 001/3

Benny Carter and His Orchestra were booked at the Orpheum Theatre (with Harry "The Hipster" Gibson and Helen Humes) from March 19-24. They opened at the Trianon Ballroom on March 26, and played a dance at Meadowbrook Gardens in Culver City on March 30. Davis was still performing after hours with Charlie Parker.

An advertisement for this show appeared in the Los Angeles Daily News on Friday, March 29 (p. 20):

SUNDAY'S LAMPLIGHTER JAZZ SESSION, held from 2-6 PM, STS. OF PARIS, 6726 H'wood Blvd., honors Benny Carter, the "amazing man of music," & the KXLA'd air show, 2-2:30 PM, will feature Benny & some top jazz musicians from his band, including Bumps Meyers, Miles Davis, & others. There's no charge for these afternoon sessions, which are dedicated to the Sister Elizabeth Kenny Foundation & their fite [sic] against infantile paralysis. The doors open at 1 PM, better come early if you want a good seat. Benny Carter & band appear thru the courtesy of the TRIANON.

The Daily News for Sunday, April 3 contained a brief notice of the March 31 show (p. 30).

Some discographies list Howard McGhee as the trumpet player on "Sweet Georgia Brown," but it sounds like Davis on all three titles, and he is explicitly identified after his solo on "Just You, Just Me." I am grateful to Tommaso Urbano, Craig Neilson, and James Accardi for help with this session.