Session details: Hi-Hat Club (December 14, 1952)

Charlie Parker session details

December 14, 1952 (13 items; TT = 41:01)

Hi-Hat Club, Boston MA

WCOP-AM radio broadcast (B+)

Show chatter

Charlie Parker (as); Joe Gordon (tpt); Dick Twardzik (p); Charles Mingus (b); Roy Haynes (d); Symphony Sid Torin (ann)

1	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin, Parker)	0:57
	SS: "Thank you very much Ken, and of course our feature attraction here at the Hi-Hat presents to you one of the great gentlemen of jazz, a gentleman that I know you enjoy, and guy that we've been talkin' about for a long, long time. So how 'bout give him a great big hand, ladies and gentlemen, Charlie Parker, Charlie Parker and his wonderful, wonderful organization... Bird, it's awfully nice having you here in Boston, and it's really a drag that you have to leave tonight. We'd love to have you here for a long, long time and hope that you come back real soon." CP: "I hope so, too, Sid, this week has been genuinely my pleasure." SS: "Ah, you're a livin' doll. Bird, ladies and gentlemen, one of the great gentlemen of jazz, we hope you enjoy. What do you think we ought to start off with?" CP: "I think 'Ornithology' would be a good opener." SS: "That's right, it's a little thing written by a very good friend of ours, who was, ah, (in unison) little Benny Harris." CP: "That's right." SS: "Benny Harris, another great gentleman of jazz whom I saw last year in Boston, here it is, ladies and gentlemen, 'Ornithology'..."
2	Ornithology (C. Parker-B. Harris)	4:14
3	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:05
	"Everybody..." (fade out) "...Charlie Parker does one of his very famous records, one I know you'll enjoy, 'Cool Blues'..."
4	Cool Blues (C. Parker)	5:21
	Parker, Gordon, and Haynes exchanges following Twardzik's solo (4:24-4:58)
5	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin, Parker)	1:13
	"Here's one of the very famous things that, uh, when, uh, in 1945 we got Bird, and Dizzy, and Max and some of the other guys together, we did a thing called 'Groovin' High'..."
6	Groovin' High (D. Gillespie-F. Paparelli)	5:24
7	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:57
	"...Boston's own, and one of the great drummers of all time, how about a great big hand for Roy Haynes, ladies and gentlemen... From California, a great gentleman of the bass, Charlie Mingus, ladies and gentlemen... Another one of Boston's favorites is on the piano, Dick Twad..., Twardzik... All week long I remember, and now I forgot -- well, what can you do, it's the early morning. On trumpet, also from Boston, a wonderful gentleman, Joe Gordon, ladies and gentlemen... You can tell that this gentleman comes from Boston, a well-liked young gentleman. And of course, the great Charlie Parker, ladies and gentlemen... (To Parker) What do we do? Here's one of the beautiful relaxed things that everybody enjoys, 'Don't Blame Me'..."
8	Don't Blame Me (D. Fields-J. McHugh)	8:56
	Parker counts off before the tune begins. He and Gordon play the "Country Gardens" closing tag (8:43-8:50)
9	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin, Parker)	0:08
	SS: "What do think we ought to do now?" CP: "'Scrapple from the Apple'..." SS: "Here's another one of the very famous Dial sides the Bird made, 'Scrapple from the Apple'..."
10	Scrapple from the Apple (C. Parker)	5:54
	Parker, Gordon, and Haynes exchanges following Twardzik's solo (4:47-5:17)
11	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin, Parker)	0:12
	SS: "We've got time for one more big fat one, then our theme." CP: "'Cheryl'..." SS: "Here's one that was made on Savoy, and this one is 'Cheryl'..."
12	Cheryl (C. Parker)	5:19
	During his solo Gordon quotes "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" (2:22-2:25) and "Kerry Dancers" (3:09-3:12). Parker, Gordon, and Haynes exchanges following Mingus' solo (4:30-4:52)
13	Jumpin' with Symphony Sid (with voicover) (L. Young)	2:21
	In the first chorus of his solo Parker quotes "I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair" (0:24-0:27). Voiceover closing announcements (1:48-2:21): "An honor and a pleasure, ladies and gentlemen, to have Charlie Parker play our theme, 'Jumpin' with Symphony Sid', and that just about winds it up for this afternoon. We hope you've had a ball. Don't forget, Bird will be here all of this afternoon and all of tonight; we hope that you can make it. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, how about a great big hand for a wonderful guy, a great group, Charlie Parker... Everybody!" (Unknown announcer continues) "There it is, ladies and gentlemen, another Sunday afternoon edition of the Symphony Sid show, brought to you every Sunday..."


1 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin, Parker) CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
2 Ornithology CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Volume 59 (W 890), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
3 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
4 Cool Blues CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
5 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin, Parker) CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
6 Groovin' High CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
7 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
8 Don't Blame Me CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
9 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin, Parker) CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
10 Scrapple from the Apple CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
11 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin, Parker) CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
12 Cheryl CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
13 Jumpin' with Symphony Sid (with voicover) CD: Uptown UPCD 27.42, Philology Volume 45 (W 876), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341

The notes to the Uptown CD include a very helpful documentary history of Parker in Boston. This is a terrific reissue, nicely mastered and packaged.

Parker was booked at Boston venues on the following dates during this period: April 12, 1951, Christy's Tavern, Framingham; May 28-June 3, 1951, Hi-Hat Club; March 3-9, 1952, Hi-Hat Club; December 8-14, 1952, Hi-Hat Club; March 9-15, 1953, Storyville Club; June 8-14, 1953, Hi-Hat Club; September 21-27, 1953, Storyville Club; October 25, 1953, Jordan Hall (Parker with Strings, hosted by John McCLellan); January 18-24, 1954, Hi-Hat Club; February 9, 1954, Worcester Memorial Auditorium, Worcester (Festival of Modern American Jazz -- thanks to Jon Foley for identifying the venue); September 26, 1954, Boston Arena (Birdland Stars of 1954).