Session details: St. Nicholas Arena (February 18, 1950)

Charlie Parker session details

February 18, 1950 (24 items; TT = 63:07)

St. Nicholas Arena, New York NY

Private recording (Tape) (C+)

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

1	Ornithology (incomplete) (C. Parker-B. Harris)	3:26
	During his solo Parker quotes "Why Was I Born?" (1:33-1:39) and "Poinciana" (1:51-1:55). Splice at 2:18 to Parker/Rodney exchanges, closing theme
2	I Didn't Know What Time It Was (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)	2:34
	"Country Gardens" tag, 2:28-2:34
3	Embraceable You (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)	2:16
	"Country Gardens" tag with extended trill, 2:09-2:16
4	Scrapple from the Apple (incomplete) (C. Parker)	4:38
	Splice at 3:20 to Parker/Rodney exchanges, closing theme
5	Hot House (incomplete) (T. Dameron)	3:45
6	Now's the Time (C. Parker)	4:15
	Parker quotes "Woody Woodpecker" in his exchanges with Rodney (3:03-3:09)
7	Visa (incomplete) (C. Parker)	2:57
	Splice at 1:45 to Parker/Rodney exchanges, closing theme
8	Star Eyes (incomplete) (D. Raye-G. DePaul-P. Johnston)	3:00
	Parker quotes "Pop Goes the Weasel" at 2:21-2:23
9	52nd Street Theme (T. Monk)	0:05
10	Confirmation (incomplete) (C. Parker)	3:13
11	Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman-J.W. Green)	2:17
	"Country Gardens" tag with extended trill, 2:06-2:16
12	I Cover the Waterfront (incomplete) (E. Heyman-J.W. Green)	1:44
13	What's New? (incomplete) (J. Burke-B. Haggart)	2:43
	Splice at 1:41
14	Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (J. Kern-O. Harbach)	3:34
	"Country Gardens" tag, 3:28-3:34
15	52nd Street Theme (T. Monk)	1:11
16	52nd Street Theme (T. Monk)	3:25
17	Wahoo [Perdido] (T. Dameron)	3:25
18	I Can't Get Started (incomplete) (V. Duke-I. Gershwin)	1:16
	Cut off near the end of Parker solo
19	52nd Street Theme (incomplete) (T. Monk)	2:56
	Begins mid-Parker solo
20	Anthropology (incomplete) (D. Gillespie-C. Parker)	2:14
	Begins during opening theme; cut off after Parker solo
21	52nd Street Theme (T. Monk)	0:31
22	Groovin' High (D. Gillespie-F. Paparelli)	4:26
23	52nd Street Theme (T. Monk)	0:24
	Very fast tempo
24	Cheryl (C. Parker)	2:52


1 Ornithology (incomplete) 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
2 I Didn't Know What Time It Was 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
3 Embraceable You 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
4 Scrapple from the Apple (incomplete) 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
5 Hot House (incomplete) 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
6 Now's the Time 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
7 Visa (incomplete) 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
8 Star Eyes (incomplete) 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
9 52nd Street Theme 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
10 Confirmation (incomplete) 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
11 Out of Nowhere 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
12 I Cover the Waterfront (incomplete) 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
13 What's New? (incomplete) 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
14 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
15 52nd Street Theme 12" LP: Jazz Workshop JWS 500, Prestige PR-24009 CD: Fantasy OJCCD 041, Definitive DRCD 11230, Philology Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1337
16 52nd Street Theme 12" LP: Zim ZL 1007 CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633
17 Wahoo 12" LP: Zim ZL 1007 CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633
18 I Can't Get Started (incomplete) 12" LP: Zim ZL 1007 CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633
19 52nd Street Theme (incomplete) 12" LP: Zim ZL 1007 CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633
20 Anthropology (incomplete) 12" LP: Zim ZL 1007 CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633
21 52nd Street Theme 12" LP: Zim ZL 1007 CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633
22 Groovin' High 12" LP: Zim ZL 1007 CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633
23 52nd Street Theme 12" LP: Zim ZL 1007 CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633
24 Cheryl 12" LP: Zim ZL 1007 CD: Philology Volume 20 (W 850), Volume 54 (W 885), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88633

This is another recording by Don Lanphere: poor fidelity, and Parker solos and exchanges only on most items. Despite the poor quality and clumsy (and sometimes perverse) editing, there is some vintage Parker on these tunes.

Within a month or two of this date the Parker Quintet was booked at Philadelphia's Showboat Lounge, and Don Lanphere or Jimmy Knepper recorded that session. According to Jazz Review (December 2004), a tape exists at the Library of Congress which includes "Rhythm-a-ning," "'Round Midnight," "Cool Blues," "East of the Sun," "Crazeology," "Visa," "Donna Lee," "Barbados," "52nd Street Theme," and "Perdido." It has not surfaced, as far as I know.

Thanks to John Griffin for help with this session.