Session details: Jirayr Zorthian's ranch (July 14, 1952)

Charlie Parker session details

July 14, 1952 (11 items; TT = 61:51)

Jirayr Zorthian's ranch, Altadena CA

Private recording (Tape) (B-)

Charlie Parker (as); Frank Morgan (as); Don Wilkerson (ts); Amos Trice (p); Dave Bryant (b); Lawrence Marable (d)

1	Scrapple from the Apple (incomplete) (C. Parker)	5:44
2	Au Privave (incomplete) (C. Parker)	5:46
	Begins toward the end of the opening theme. Parker introduces the "Dance of the Infidels" theme during his solo
3	Dance of the Infidels (B. Powell)	7:33
	Parker quotes "Cool Blues" in his exchanges (2:25-2:28)
4	A Night in Tunisia (D. Gillespie-F. Paparelli)	7:33
5	Ornithology (C. Parker-B. Harris)	7:31
	Begins with "How High the Moon"
6	Party chatter	1:17
7	Embraceable You (incomplete) (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)	2:35
	Excerpt (2:11) on Philology W 80
8	Hot House (incomplete) (T. Dameron)	7:07
	Begins toward the end of the opening theme. Excerpt (3:39) on Royal Jazz and Philology W 80
9	Party chatter	0:13
10	Cool Blues (C. Parker)	12:20
	Parker first states the theme at 12:01, but the whole tune sounds like "Cool Blues"
11	Dixie - Yankee Doodle March - I Got Rhythm	4:12


1 Scrapple from the Apple (incomplete) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Philology Volume 32 (W 863), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622
2 Au Privave (incomplete) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Philology Volume 32 (W 863), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622
3 Dance of the Infidels 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Philology Volume 32 (W 863), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622
4 A Night in Tunisia 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Philology Volume 33 (W 864), Volume 57 (W 888), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622
5 Ornithology 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Philology Volume 33 (W 864), Volume 59 (W 890), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622
6 Party chatter 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Philology Volume 33 (W 864), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622
7 Embraceable You (incomplete) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Royal Jazz RJD 505, Philology Volume 8 (W 80), Volume 33 (W 864), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622
8 Hot House (incomplete) 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Royal Jazz RJD 505, Philology Volume 8 (W 80), Volume 33 (W 864), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622
9 Party chatter 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Philology Volume 36 (W 867), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622
10 Cool Blues 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Philology Volume 36 (W 867), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622
11 Dixie - Yankee Doodle March - I Got Rhythm 12" LP: Verve B0032477 CD: Verve 00602507408459, Philology Volume 36 (W 867), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88622

Evidently there were weekly jam sessions during this period at Zorthian's ranch, north of Los Angeles. Parker attended a few, along with the young alto saxophonist Frank Morgan. They are poorly recorded on amateur equipment, and most of the tunes are incomplete, but they showcase Parker in a very relaxed jam-session setting. He and Morgan have some nice exchanges on "Au Privave/Dance of the Infidels."

On this night there was a wild party where most of the participants took off their clothes. You can hear cries of "take it off" during the striptease performed to "Embraceable You" (e.g. at 0:46). The chatter that precedes "Embraceable You" opens with a male voice saying, "Take 'em off, come on... Take 'em off," and a female voice pleading, "come on, everybody, off with 'em, and you too!" There's a lot of laughter and applause. Parker explains to a group, "'Cause it's long in the first part, and you're just sittin' around, just bein' yourself, come on out of 'em," which provokes much laughter.

The notes to Philology Volume 8 put this at Julie McDonald's place in Hollywood, spring 1951, and have Teddy Edwards (p) and Roy Haynes (d) on "Embraceable You." I am grateful to John Burton, Leif Bo Petersen, and Jay Becker for help with this session.