Session details: Birdland (August 27, 1954)

Charlie Parker session details

August 27, 1954 (10 items; TT = 14:48)

Birdland, New York NY

WABC-AM radio broadcast (B)

Show chatter

Charlie Parker (as); Walter Bishop Jr. (p); Teddy Kotick (b); Roy Haynes (d); Teddy Blume (vln); Unknown (oboe, strings); Fred Collins (ann)

1	Introduction (Fred Collins)	0:08
	"Thank you, Bill McCord. Yes, here we are at the jazz corner of the world, Birdland, right here at Broadway and 52nd Street in the heart of New York, as we continue..."
2	Strings Theme (Voiceover (Collins)) (Unknown)	0:39
	"...with this portion of Hear America Swingin', Stars in Jazz... Now, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Fred Collins again, and it's my very pleasant task to introduce a new sound tonight, across our NBC lines on Hear America Swingin', with a unique sound in modern music, the sound of Charlie Parker, his inimitable alto saxophone, and a brand new sound with strings, harp, and oboe. Starting off, Charlie Parker and Strings, from Birdland, and 'What is This Thing Called Love?'..."
3	What is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)	2:18
4	Introduction (Collins)	0:53
	"Yes, tonight from Birdland on Broadway, the jazz corner of the world, right here at 52nd Street and Broadway in the heart of New York City, we're sending greetings to the city where jazz began, and that's New Orleans, down Louisiana way. Loyola University and New Orleans have always had an outstanding interest in all kinds of music, for instance the lovely Marguerite Piazza of our NBC Show of Shows is a New Orleans alumna. Then there's Charles Anthony of the Metropolitan Opera, and trumpet man Al Hirt, who's made a name for himself with many of the top bands in the nation. And of course Loyola University is a symbol of the great educational tradition of the Jesuits, which goes back more than four hundred years. But we're interested in the lighter side of the American school and college life tonight -- as we salute Loyola University. So for collegians everywhere, and for students, alumni, and friends of Loyola University in particular... Charlie Parker and Strings, now play 'Repetition'..." (Incomplete on Bird Box, Ember, etc.)
5	Repetition (N. Hefti)	2:44
6	Introduction (Collins)	0:06
	"Charlie Parker and Strings, here at Birdland, and 'Easy to Love'... coming up. That was 'Repetition'. Here now, Charlie and Strings, and 'Easy to Love'..." (Incomplete on Bird Box, Ember, etc.)
7	Easy to Love (C. Porter)	2:09
8	Introduction (Collins)	0:46
	"While you're listening to these fine sounds in modern music on Hear America Swingin' on this Stars in Jazz session, this would be a good time to remind all of you... lovers of modern music, that a concert will take place here in New York City at Carnegie Hall on the 25th, and what an aggregation of musicians will be there. Mr. Charlie Parker will be among them, Count Basie's Orchestra, the lovely Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Lester Young, the Modern Jazz Quartet, the Bill Davis Trio... If you're anywhere in the vicinity of New York, you certainly, for the sake of fine jazz, will want to see this wonderful program. Returning now to the music of Charlie Parker and Strings, now here on Stars in Jazz on Hear America Swingin', from Birdland, 'East of the Sun'..." (Incomplete on Ember)
9	East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) (B. Bowman)	3:37
10	Strings Theme (Unknown)	1:28
	Voiceover from 0:13: "With that most delightful theme of Charlie Parker and Strings, they come to another ending of in our session of Stars in Jazz on Hear America Swingin'. From Birdland, the jazz corner of the world, right here at 52nd Street and Broadway in the heart of New York City. Yes, we've been enjoying Stars in Jazz on Hear America Swingin', dedicated tonight to Loyola University and featuring Charlie Parker and Strings... Stars in Jazz, featuring the finest exponents in the world of modern music and jazz, is presented weekly by NBC through the courtesy of the American Federation of Musicians, James C. Petrillo, President. Next over most of these same stations, the latest news, then Hear America Swingin' returns to bring you Woody Herman and his Third Herd. Yes, Hear America Swingin' each week at this time on this NBC station. Another fresh and new NBC Radio Network production. Till next time, then, Fred Collins saying so long for now..."


3 What is This Thing Called Love? 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 22, Ozone 2 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3018, Sound Hills SSCD 8034, Ember CD 509, Philology Volume 29 (W 860), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1343
4 Introduction (Collins) CD: Ember CD 509
5 Repetition 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 22, Ozone 2 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3018, Sound Hills SSCD 8034, Ember CD 509, Philology Volume 29 (W 860), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1343
6 Introduction (Collins) CD: Ember CD 509
7 Easy to Love 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 22, Ozone 2 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3018, Sound Hills SSCD 8034, Ember CD 509, Philology Volume 29 (W 860), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1343
8 Introduction (Collins) CD: Ember CD 509
9 East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 22, Ozone 2 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3018, Sound Hills SSCD 8034, Ember CD 509, Philology Volume 29 (W 860), Frémeaux & Associés FA 1343

Charlie Parker and Strings began what was supposed to be a three-week engagement at Birdland on August 26, opposite Dizzy Gillespie and Dinah Washington. Soon after this evening's performance, Parker was fired by the Birdland management, went home to argue with Chan, and ended up attempting suicide by swallowing the contents of a bottle of iodine. He was diagnosed with "latent schizophrenia" and confined to Bellevue Hospital until September 10.

Thanks to Leif Bo Petersen for help with this session.