Session details: Apollo Theater (August 17-23, 1950)

Charlie Parker session details

August 17-23, 1950 (33 items; TT = 63:29)

Apollo Theater, New York NY

Private recording (Tape) (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); Symphony Sid Torin (ann)

1	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:34
	"...the great artist, Sarah Vaughan. And how lovely you look... Why don't we, ah, sorta like, do one of the old ones that you made a little while back, one of the up things. But first, let's bring out Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker, ladies and gentlemen... And, uh, Stan Getz... Ah, we're gonna really make this room swing. And ladies and gentlemen, one of the older tunes I hope you enjoy, 'I Cried for You'..."
2	I Cried for You (incomplete) (A. Freed-G. Arnheim-A. Lyman)	1:25
	Add Sarah Vaughan (voc). Cut off in the middle of a terrific Parker solo

First show
3	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:47
	"Well, ladies and gentlemen, just in case we have a few squares in the house, I'd like to remind you that I'm a disk jer..., ah, jockey. I'm known as the all-night, all-frantic one, where everything is crazy on JZ. From midnight to 5:45 we play the sides, the records we hope you enjoy, directly from Birdland. And if you listen to the program, you probably have heard us talk about a young gentleman who's had an idea, to blow in front of strings. Well, the idea has finally come true, and here for the first time at the Apollo stage, Mr. Jazz himself, let's give him a great big hand, Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker and Strings..."
4	Repetition (N. Hefti)	2:38
5	April in Paris (V. Duke-E.Y. Harburg)	3:09
6	Easy to Love (C. Porter)	2:16
7	What is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)	2:46
8	Announcement (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:18
	"Charlie Parker, ladies and gentlemen, one of the great gentlemen of modern sound. Let's give him a great big hand. Bird! Aelish Yutfagel... Heh-heh-heh... Charlie Parker with wings [sic]... What a doll!"
9	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:34
	"And now, ladies and gentlemen, like Bird, who had a great big idea, a young lady had an idea -- came from Newark, New Jersey; worked around in church choirs... Made her debut here in the Apollo Theatre, one of the amateur hours -- broke it up -- went with Earl 'Fatha' Hines band, then with Billy Eckstine, and now on her own... Probably the greatest female vocalist we have today, let's bring her on with a great big hand, Sarah Vaughan, ladies and gentlemen..."
10	My Gentleman Friend (W. Jurman-B. Kader-G. Kahn)	1:25
	Parker out
11	You're All I Need (W. Jurman-B. Kader-G. Kahn)	1:25
	Introduced by Sarah Vaughan: "Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, and right here I'd like to do a number I recorded with Billy Eckstine -- I just wish he was here so we could sing it together -- but nevertheless here goes 'You're All I Need'..." Parker out

Second show
12	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:08
	"And right now, ladies and gentlemen, the great Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker and Strings..."
13	April in Paris (V. Duke-E.Y. Harburg)	3:13
14	Repetition (N. Hefti)	2:40
15	Easy to Love (C. Porter)	2:16
16	What is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)	2:41
17	Announcement (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:30
	"Charlie Parker, ladies and gentlemen... Yutfagel! Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh... Ah, he's a real wild, wild guy... Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker... Great gentleman of jazz. Great big hand for Charlie Parker... A doll, too... C'mon, Bird, one more. Yeah, Bird's goin' to Europe, Bird's goin' to the other side to hip the people, straighten 'em out a little bit..."

Third show
18	Repetition (N. Hefti)	2:36
19	April in Paris (V. Duke-E.Y. Harburg)	2:05
20	Easy to Love (C. Porter)	2:05
21	What is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)	2:09

Fourth show
22	Repetition (N. Hefti)	2:34
23	April in Paris (V. Duke-E.Y. Harburg)	2:12
24	Easy to Love (C. Porter)	2:06
25	What is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)	2:06

Fifth show
26	Repetition (N. Hefti)	2:25
27	April in Paris (V. Duke-E.Y. Harburg)	2:10
28	Easy to Love (C. Porter)	2:03
29	What is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)	2:07

Sixth show
30	Repetition (N. Hefti)	2:25
31	April in Paris (V. Duke-E.Y. Harburg)	2:58
32	What is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)	2:37
33	Closing announcement (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:06
	"Charlie Parker, ladies and gentlemen, a great big hand for Mr. Jazz himself, Yardbird, Charlie..." (fade out)


1 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Philology Volume 9 (W 120), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
2 I Cried for You (incomplete) CD: Philology Volume 9 (W 120), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
3 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
4 Repetition 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9, Zim ZM 1007 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
5 April in Paris 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
6 Easy to Love 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
7 What is This Thing Called Love? 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
8 Announcement (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
9 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
10 My Gentleman Friend CD: Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
11 You're All I Need CD: Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
12 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
13 April in Paris 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
14 Repetition 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
15 Easy to Love 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
16 What is This Thing Called Love? 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Charlie Parker Records CP-503, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
17 Announcement (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
18 Repetition CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
19 April in Paris CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
20 Easy to Love CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
21 What is This Thing Called Love? CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1338
22 Repetition CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
23 April in Paris CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
24 Easy to Love CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
25 What is This Thing Called Love? CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
26 Repetition CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
27 April in Paris CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
28 Easy to Love CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
29 What is This Thing Called Love? CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
30 Repetition 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
31 April in Paris 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
32 What is This Thing Called Love? 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 9 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3007, Sound Hills SSCD 8023, Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669
33 Closing announcement (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Philology Volume 10 (W 200), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88669

This recording was made by Al Porcino, Don Lanphere, and Jimmy Knepper. The notes to Philology Volume 10 state that there were six shows, and place the titles in the same order in each set; however, Symphony Sid's introduction comes before "April in Paris" in the second show. There is no performance of "Easy to Love" in the sixth set, although one is listed. (Could it be the one where Parker credits it to Jimmy Mundy? See late summer 1950.) Bird Box contains only half of these items.

Joining Charlie Parker and Strings and Sarah Vaughan on the bill were Stan Getz's Four Brothers band and comedian Timmy Rogers. Charlie Parker Records CP-503 contains two pieces by Getz and a skit by Rogers, along with the two additional titles featuring Sarah Vaughan, plus six of the items listed above.