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Charlie Parker session details

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February 14, 1950 (20 items; TT = 43:55)
Birdland, New York NY
Private recording (Tape) (C+)
Show chatter

Charlie Parker (as); Red Rodney [Robert Chudnick] (tpt); J.J. Johnson (tb); Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Roy Haynes (d)

First set
1 Hot House (incomplete) (T. Dameron) 3:33

Begins during Parker's opening chorus. Parker, Rodney, and Johnson exchanges (2:22-2:53). Faded out during closing theme
2 Out of Nowhere (incomplete) (E. Heyman-J.W. Green) 2:20

Opening measures missing. During his solo Parker quotes "Over There" (1:11-1:15). "Country Gardens" closing tag with prolonged trill (2:05-2:18)
3 Visa (incomplete) (C. Parker) 2:31

Begins during Parker's opening chorus. Parker, Rodney, and Johnson exchanges (1:50-2:30)
4 52nd Street Theme (T. Monk) 0:47

The "Wee" theme arises out of the exchanges

Second set
5 Anthropology (incomplete) (D. Gillespie-C. Parker) 3:20

Begins during Parker's opening chorus. Parker, Rodney, and Johnson exchanges (2:27-3:20)
6 Wee [Allen's Alley] (D. Best) 1:00

Faded during closing theme
7 What's New? (incomplete) (J. Burke-B. Haggart) 1:54

Begins during Parker's opening chorus. Splice at 1:50 to next title
8 Ruby, My Dear (incomplete) (T. Monk) 0:34

Begins near the end of the closing chorus. "Country Gardens" tag with prolonged trill (0:20-0:33)
9 Little Willie Leaps (incomplete) (M. Davis) 3:06

Begins during Parker's opening chorus. Parker and Rodney in unison during opening chorus. Splice at 1:37 to Parker, Rodney, Johnson exchanges (1:37-2:27). Faded out during closing chorus
10 Yesterdays (incomplete) (J. Kern-O. Harbach) 1:10

Closing chorus plus "Country Gardens" tag (1:02-1:07)
11 52nd Street Theme (T. Monk) 1:01

Third set
12 Stage chatter 0:03
13 52nd Street Theme (incomplete) (T. Monk) 1:02

Consists of Parker, Rodney, and Johnson exchanges and closing theme
14 Dizzy Atmosphere (incomplete) (D. Gillespie-C. Parker) 3:44

Splice at 1:47 to Parker, Rodney, and Johnson exchanges (1:47-3:20). Faded out during closing theme
15 Wahoo (incomplete) [Perdido] (T. Dameron) 4:16

During his solo Parker plays "The Daring Young Man (on the Flying Trapeze)" (1:17-1:21). Splice at 2:11 to Parker, Rodney, Johnson exchanges (2:11-3:29)
16 I Can't Get Started (incomplete) (V. Duke-I. Gershwin) 1:09

Closing chorus
17 Wee (incomplete) [Allen's Alley] (D. Best) 3:31

Splice at 1:41 to Parker, Rodney, and Johnson exchanges (1:43-3:04). Faded out during closing theme

Fourth set
18 52nd Street Theme (T. Monk) 1:03
19 Slow Boat to China (incomplete) (F. Loesser) 3:33

Opening measures missing. Splice at 1:46 to Parker, Rodney, and Johnson exchanges (1:46-2:53). Faded out during closing theme
20 A Night in Tunisia (incomplete) (D. Gillespie-F. Paparelli) 2:46

Opening measures missing. Theme, Parker solo, splice (2:20), closing theme
21 52nd Street Theme (T. Monk) 1:32


1 Hot House (incomplete)
12" LP: Big Molly CVRR 8294
CD: Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

2 Out of Nowhere (incomplete)
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Big Molly CVRR 8294
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

3 Visa (incomplete)
CD: Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

4 52nd Street Theme
CD: Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

5 Anthropology (incomplete)
CD: Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

6 Wee
CD: Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

7 What's New? (incomplete)
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Volume 40 (W 871), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

8 Ruby, My Dear (incomplete)
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Volume 40 (W 871), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

9 Little Willie Leaps (incomplete)
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Volume 40 (W 871), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

10 Yesterdays (incomplete)
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

11 52nd Street Theme
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

12 Stage chatter
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

13 52nd Street Theme (incomplete)
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

14 Dizzy Atmosphere (incomplete)
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

15 Wahoo (incomplete)
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Volume 40 (W 871), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

16 I Can't Get Started (incomplete)
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Volume 40 (W 871), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

17 Wee (incomplete)
12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 4, Philology Volume 6 (W 29)
CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3003, Sound Hills SSCD 8019, Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Volume 40 (W 871), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

18 52nd Street Theme
CD: Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

19 Slow Boat to China (incomplete)
CD: Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

20 A Night in Tunisia (incomplete)
CD: Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Volume 57 (W 888), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647

21 52nd Street Theme
CD: Philology Volume 5/6 (W 19/29), Ember/Fat Boy FBB 901, Rare Live Recordings RLR 88647


Birdland opened on December 15, 1949; these recordings were made a couple months later by Jimmy Knepper and Don Lanphere. They consist only of themes, Parker solos, and exchanges in most cases.

The fragment of "Ruby My Dear" that's spliced onto "What's New?" is not listed on Philology or Ember.

All original content on this website is licensed by Peter Losin under a Creative Commons License