Session details: Royal Roost Club (February 19, 1949)

Miles Ahead session details

February 19, 1949 (16 items; TT = 30:18)

Royal Roost Club, New York NY

WMCA-AM radio broadcast (B)

Show chatter

Charlie Parker (as); Kenny Dorham (tpt); Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d); Miles Davis (tpt); Ted Kelly (tb); Sahib Shihab [Edmund Gregory] (as); Benjamin Lundy (ts); Cecil Payne (bs); Tadd Dameron (p); John Collins (g); Dillon "Curley" Russell (b); Kenny Clarke (d); Carlos Vidal (bgo); Symphony Sid Torin (ann)

1	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	2:46
	SS: "...on trumpet, let's see if I can remember 'em all. Miles Davis on trumpet, Curley Russell on bass... If I can remember them all... Uhh, why don't you introduce 'em for me, Tadd?" TD: "Okie-doke." SS: "You're the man, it's your group, they're making Capitol records. I think Tadd Dameron and everybody would like to hear your voice outside the piano, so why don't you straighten it for me?" TD: "Thank you, Sid. First, we have on guitar, a fine guitarist formerly with the Slam Stewart Trio, John Collins... A former Esquire award winner, a very fine trumpet player, he was in the first three of every poll..." SS: "The greatest." TD: "The greatest. Miles Davis..." SS: "Let's give Miles a wonderful hand." TD: "On trombone, formerly of the Stan Kenton organization, a fine trombonist also in the first two of, among the trombonists, Kai Winding... And my boy... Pierre from Paris, Kenny Clarke on drums... Formerly of the Dizzy Gillespie organization, on baritone, Cecil Payne... A fine recording artist, he's recorded with Dizzy Gillespie and other organizations, Curley Russell on bass... On conga drums, formerly of the Stan Kenton band, Carlos Vidal... From the Thelonious Monk... group, Shihab on alto... A newcomer to these circles, but a very good tenor player, Ben Lundy..." SS: "Well, Tadd, I think that just about takes care of everybody here in your wonderful group -- remember, these are the gentlemen, and you'll hear a lot about the Tadd Dameron organization, recording for Capitol with a beautiful sound, the sounds here at the Royal Roost, ladies and gentlemen, every night and every morning in the week, from nine-thirty until four, where you can sit back and relax and dig the pretty sounds that come out of this gone group. And to start things off, featuring John Collins on guitar, a thing called... an original thing called 'Focus'..."
2	Focus (T. Dameron)	3:55
3	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:14
	"And so, with Miles Davis on trumpet, John Collins on guitar, that was 'Focus', an original thing. And right now, a beautiful relaxed thing featuring John Collins on guitar, 'April in Paris'..."
4	April in Paris (V. Duke-E.Y. Harburg)	2:56
5	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:18
	"That's right, ladies and gentlemen, with the great and wonderful Tadd Dameron organization, John Collins featured on guitar, that was the beautiful 'April in Paris'. And right now, an original thing that's done so very well for the great Tadd Dameron, featuring Tadd at the piano and Miles on trumpet, 'Good Bait'..."
6	Good Bait (T. Dameron-C. Basie)	3:27
7	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:18
	"And so there it is, once again the great sounds that come out of the Tadd Dameron group. Tadd Dameron and the wonderful organization, and here's their... I believe this is the one that's soon to come out on Capitol, is that right? Here it is, called 'Webb's Delight'... 'Webb's Delight' featuring Miles Davis, John Collins, and Kai Winding. Go ahead, fellas, break it up..."
8	Webb's Delight (T. Dameron)	3:38
9	The Squirrel (incomplete) (T. Dameron)	0:04
10	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:06
	"...call for the Bird a little while ago, while we were on the air, 'Groovin' High'..."
11	Groovin' High (D. Gillespie-F. Paparelli)	4:38
	During his solo Dorham develops the "Jumpin' with Symphony Sid" theme (2:19-2:21, 2:34-2:41); during his solo Parker plays "Cool Blues" (3:29-3:31). Parker and Dorham exchanges before closing theme (3:29-4:02)
12	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) [incomplete]	0:04
	"And so there they are, the great Charlie Parker and the All-Stars..."
13	Confirmation (C. Parker)	3:26
	Parker and Dorham exchanges before closing theme (2:17-2:50)
14	Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin)	0:12
	"And so there they are, once again, the wonderful sounds that come out of the great Charlie Parker All-Star organization, and to wind their little part of the deal up, let's hear, well, it's a privilege to hear the Bird sing, 'Salt Peanuts'..." Incomplete (0:04) on Savoy 17021/4 and Definitive
15	Salt Peanuts (D. Gillespie-K. Clarke)	3:33
	Parker (voc)
16	Jumpin' with Symphony Sid (L. Young)	0:43
	Voiceover from 0:10: "And so once again, ladies and gentlemen, the greatest gentleman of modern jazz, the great Charlie Parker and the All-Stars, who entertained you in the last 15 minutes here at the Royal Roost. Remember this is the morning that we take our WMCA microphones right down to the clubs during our jazz hour and bring you the great sounds of the great Charlie Parker, the All-Stars with Al Haig at the piano, Max Roach on drums, Tommy Potter on bass, and Kenny Dorham on trumpet. Hope you've had a lot of fun, and right now we'd like to bring you the character gentleman of the, ah, Royal Roost, the gentleman that the Royal Roost is very happy to present to you after finding him, and bringing..." (Sid is clearly talking about Harry Belafonte)


1 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1008, Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Definitive Records DRCD 11164, FAP 001/3
2 Focus 12" LP: Beppo BEP 503, Jung Cat RBD 948, Durium-Cicala BLJ 8032 CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1008, Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Definitive Records DRCD 11164, FAP 001/3
3 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1008, Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Definitive Records DRCD 11164, FAP 001/3
4 April in Paris 12" LP: Beppo BEP 503, Jung Cat RBD 948, Durium-Cicala BLJ 8032 CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1008, Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Definitive Records DRCD 11164, FAP 001/3
5 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1008, Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Definitive Records DRCD 11164, FAP 001/3
6 Good Bait 12" LP: Beppo BEP 503, Jung Cat RBD 948, Durium-Cicala BLJ 8032 CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1008, Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Definitive Records DRCD 11164, FAP 001/3
7 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1008, Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Definitive Records DRCD 11164, FAP 001/3
8 Webb's Delight 12" LP: Beppo BEP 503, Jung Cat RBD 948, Durium-Cicala BLJ 8032 CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1008, Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Definitive Records DRCD 11164, FAP 001/3
9 The Squirrel (incomplete) 12" LP: Beppo BEP 503, Jung Cat RBD 948, Durium-Cicala BLJ 8032 CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1008, Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Definitive Records DRCD 11164, FAP 001/3
10 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) 12" LP: Savoy SJL 2260 CD: Savoy ZDS 4411/4, K30Y 6241/4, Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB 50408 (= COCB 53443)
11 Groovin' High 12" LP: Savoy SJL 1108, SJL 2260 CD: Savoy ZDS 4411/4, K30Y 6241/4, Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB 50408 (= COCB 53443), Savoy SVY 17021/4, Definitive DRCD 11153
12 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) 12" LP: Savoy SJL 2260 CD: Savoy ZDS 4411/4, K30Y 6241/4, Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB 50408 (= COCB 53443)
13 Confirmation 12" LP: Savoy SJL 1108, SJL 2260 CD: Savoy ZDS 4411/4, K30Y 6241/4, Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB 50408 (= COCB 53443), Savoy SVY 17021/4, Definitive DRCD 11153
14 Introduction (Symphony Sid Torin) 12" LP: Savoy SJL 2260 CD: Savoy ZDS 4411/4, K30Y 6241/4, Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB 50408 (= COCB 53443), Savoy SVY 17021/4, Definitive DRCD 11153
15 Salt Peanuts 12" LP: Savoy SJL 1108, SJL 2260 CD: Savoy ZDS 4411/4, K30Y 6241/4, Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB 50408 (= COCB 53443), Savoy SVY 17021/4, Definitive DRCD 11153
16 Jumpin' with Symphony Sid 12" LP: Savoy SJL 2260 CD: Savoy ZDS 4411/4, K30Y 6241/4, Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB 50408 (= COCB 53443)

Davis replaces Leonard Hawkins on trumpet; the rest of the personnel remain the same as on the February 12 broadcast.

The Tadd Dameron Big Ten were booked at the Roost from February 12 through March 16, where Charlie Parker was already in residence. Recordings of the Dameron group survive from February 12, 19, 26, and March 5. The March 5 items are missing from Philology W 850, which purports to include "the complete Tadd Dameron Tentet 1949 Royal Roost recordings."

"Webb's Delight" is essentially the same tune as "Sid's Delight" (as recorded by Dameron and Fats Navarro for Capitol M-11059 the same year) and the classic "Tadd's Delight" (recorded by the Davis Quintet in June 1956 and issued on 'Round About Midnight). Dameron was evidently keen on delight -- there's also "John's Delight," a different tune recorded with Davis for Capitol in April 1949.