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Charlie Parker session details

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August 14, 1947 (12 items; TT = 23:13)
Harris Smith Studio, New York NY
Commercial for Savoy

Charlie Parker (ts); Miles Davis (tpt); John Lewis (p); Nelson Boyd (b); Max Roach (d)

1 Milestones (take 1 (fs)) (M. Davis) 0:07
2 Milestones (take 2 (master)) (M. Davis) 2:34
3 Milestones (take 3) (M. Davis) 2:43
4 Little Willie Leaps (take 1 (inc)) (M. Davis) 0:36
5 Little Willie Leaps (take 2) (M. Davis) 3:07
6 Little Willie Leaps (take 3 (master)) (M. Davis) 2:49

Listed as "Wailing Willie" on XP 8098 and MG 9034
7 Half Nelson (take 1) (M. Davis) 2:49
8 Half Nelson (take 2 (master)) (M. Davis) 2:42
9 Sippin' at Bells (take 1 (inc)) (M. Davis) 0:55
10 Sippin' at Bells (take 2 (master)) (M. Davis) 2:21
11 Sippin' at Bells (take 3 (fs)) (M. Davis) 0:04
12 Sippin' at Bells (take 4) (M. Davis) 2:26


1 Milestones (take 1 (fs))
12" LP: Savoy SJL 1196, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

2 Milestones (take 2 (master))
78 rpm: Savoy 934
45 rpm: Savoy XP 8004, Savoy 45-310
10" LP: Savoy MG-9001, Craft Recordings 8807209696-7
12" LP: Savoy MG 12009, SJL 1196, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

3 Milestones (take 3)
12" LP: Savoy MG-12001, SJL-1107, SJL 1196, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

4 Little Willie Leaps (take 1 (inc))
12" LP: Savoy MG-12001, SJL 1196, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

5 Little Willie Leaps (take 2)
12" LP: Savoy MG-12001, SJL-1107, SJL 1196, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

6 Little Willie Leaps (take 3 (master))
78 rpm: Savoy 977
45 rpm: Savoy XP 8006, XP 8098
10" LP: Savoy MG-9001, MG 9034, Craft Recordings 8807209696-7
12" LP: Savoy MG-12001, SJL 1196, SJL 2201, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

7 Half Nelson (take 1)
12" LP: Savoy MG-12001, SJL-1107, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

8 Half Nelson (take 2 (master))
78 rpm: Savoy 951
45 rpm: Savoy XP 8005, Savoy 45-303
10" LP: Savoy MG-9000, Craft Recordings 8807209696-7
12" LP: Savoy MG 12009, SJL 1196, SJL 2201, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

9 Sippin' at Bells (take 1 (inc))
12" LP: Savoy MG 12009, SJL 1196, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

10 Sippin' at Bells (take 2 (master))
78 rpm: Savoy 934
45 rpm: Savoy MG 8004, Savoy 45-306
10" LP: Savoy MG-9000, Craft Recordings 8807209696-7
12" LP: Savoy MG 12009, SJL 1196, SJL 2201, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

11 Sippin' at Bells (take 3 (fs))
12" LP: Savoy SJL 1196, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334

12 Sippin' at Bells (take 4)
12" LP: Savoy MG-12001, SJL-1107, SJL 1196, S5J-5500
CD: Nippon Columbia COCY 75791/8, COCB-50402 (= COCB-53035, COCB-53438, COCB-53885, COCB-54232), Definitive DRCD 11148, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1334


This was Davis' first recording session as a leader. Unlike the Parker-led Savoy sessions, this one was preceded by two rehearsal sessions. Parker begins a little tentatively on tenor saxophone, but by the end of the session he plays with his usual facility and inventiveness. All of the compositions are Davis', though some early issues credit "Milestones" to Parker.

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