Session details: Rockland Palace Ballroom (September 26, 1952)

Charlie Parker session details

September 26, 1952 (34 items; TT = 112:08)

Rockland Palace Ballroom, New York NY

Private recording (Tape) (B)

Show chatter

Charlie Parker (as); Walter Bishop Jr. (p); Mundell Lowe (g); Teddy Kotick (b); Max Roach (d); Unknown (oboe); Unknown (strings)

1	East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) (B. Bowman)	3:32
	Toward the end of his opening solo Parker quotes the "Ornithology" theme (1:16-1:17)
2	What is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)	2:24
	During his opening solo Parker quotes "Hot House" (0:18-0:25) and "Habanera" (0:51-0:56)
3	Stardust (H. Carmichael-M. Parish)	4:07
4	Ornithology (incomplete) (C. Parker-B. Harris)	3:09
	No strings. Opening theme, Parker solo (splice at 2:47), closing theme
5	Easy to Love (C. Porter)	1:53
6	Just Friends (incomplete) (J. Klenner-S. Lewis)	2:34
	Fade out during piano solo
7	Dancing in the Dark (H. Dietz-A. Schwartz)	3:45
	Toward the end of his solo Parker quotes the "Ornithology" theme (2:03-2:05)
8	Gold Rush [Turnstile] (G. Mulligan)	4:17
	Bishop gets a nice solo before Parker returns with the closing theme
9	Don't Blame Me (D. Fields-J. McHugh)	2:40
	No strings. Parker adds the "Country Gardens" tag with an extended trill (2:31-2:40)
10	April in Paris (V. Duke-E.Y. Harburg)	3:10
11	Repetition (incomplete) (N. Hefti)	2:51
	Fade out before closing cadence
12	Everything Happens to Me (incomplete) (M. Dennis-T. Adair)	2:08
	Fade out during Parker closing solo
13	Sly Mongoose (incomplete) (J. Edwards)	6:02
	No strings. After Parker plays the opening theme, he can be heard chatting with someone as Bishop solos (0:54-2:10); Parker returns for a solo (2:15-5:57). Fade out after Parker solo
14	Rocker (G. Mulligan)	4:27
	Someone sings the rhythm as Parker states the opening theme, and a lot of chatter is audible as he solos. Someone (Parker?) can be heard whistling the tune during Bishop's solo (3:19-3:22). Incomplete (4:14) on Bird Box
15	Laura (D. Raskin-J. Mercer)	3:27
	Opening bars missing on Bird Box
16	Lester Leaps In (L. Young)	4:25
	No strings. The crowd is really into it, shouting encouragement to Parker, who has a long fluid inventive solo; early on he quotes "Over There" (1:52-1:55). Incomplete (4:03) on Bird Box
17	Announcement (incomplete)	0:07
	"Ladies and gentlemen, give him a great big hand..."
18	Parker noodling	0:26
	No strings
19	Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman-J.W. Green)	3:06
20	I Didn't Know What Time It Was (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)	2:57
21	I'll Remember April (D. Raye-G. DePaul-P. Johnston)	2:26
22	Parker noodling	0:14
	Parker practices a scale
23	Cool Blues (incomplete) (C. Parker)	3:31
	No strings. Splice at end of Parker solo (1:49) into guitar solo; another splice at 3:04 into Parker closing theme
24	East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) (B. Bowman)	3:27
25	Just Friends (J. Klenner-S. Lewis)	3:21
26	My Little Suede Shoes (C. Parker)	5:16
	No strings
27	What is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)	2:20
28	Repetition (incomplete) (N. Hefti)	2:57
	Fade out before closing cadence
29	This Time the Dream's on Me (H. Arlen-J. Mercer)	7:17
	No strings. Solos: Parker (0:40-2:45); Lowe (2:45-4:14); Bishop (4:14-5:44); Parker/Haynes exchanges (5:44-6:42). Opening bars missing on Bird Box
30	Moose the Mooche (incomplete) (C. Parker)	5:16
	No strings. Solos: Parker (0:38-2:42); Lowe (2:42-4:12); splice at 4:15 to Parker/Haynes exchanges and closing theme. Material after the splice is missing from Jazz Classics, which fades out at 4:12 as guitar solo ends
31	Star Eyes (incomplete) (D. Raye-G. DePaul-P. Johnston)	2:39
	No strings. Opening theme, Parker solo; fade out during closing theme. Incomplete (2:07) on Jazz Classics
32	Rocker (incomplete) (G. Mulligan)	5:40
	Parker quotes "Cool Blues" at the beginning of his solo (0:50-0:52). Following Parker, Bishop has a nice solo (3:07-4:56) during which you can hear Parker chatting with someone in the audience. Fade out as closing theme ends
33	Easy to Love (C. Porter)	2:04
	Between Parker's solos someone can be heard chatting and singing the pizzicato string part (1:30-1:42)
34	Rocker (G. Mulligan)	4:13
	Strings audible during opening and closing choruses, between which Parker has a terrific solo.


1 East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
2 What is This Thing Called Love? CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
3 Stardust CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
4 Ornithology (incomplete) CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 59 (W 890), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
5 Easy to Love CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
6 Just Friends (incomplete) CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
7 Dancing in the Dark CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
8 Gold Rush CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
9 Don't Blame Me CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
10 April in Paris 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
11 Repetition (incomplete) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
12 Everything Happens to Me (incomplete) CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
13 Sly Mongoose (incomplete) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3013, Sound Hills SSCD 8029, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 63 (W 894), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
14 Rocker 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 16, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
15 Laura 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3013, Sound Hills SSCD 8029, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
16 Lester Leaps In 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 63 (W 894), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
17 Announcement (incomplete) 12" LP: Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 63 (W 894), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
18 Parker noodling CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 63 (W 894), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
19 Out of Nowhere 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
20 I Didn't Know What Time It Was 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
21 I'll Remember April 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 16, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3013, Sound Hills SSCD 8029, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
22 Parker noodling CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 63 (W 894), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
23 Cool Blues (incomplete) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 63 (W 894), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
24 East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
25 Just Friends 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 16, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3013, Sound Hills SSCD 8029, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
26 My Little Suede Shoes 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 16, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3013, Sound Hills SSCD 8029, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 63 (W 894), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
27 What is This Thing Called Love? 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
28 Repetition (incomplete) CD: Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
29 This Time the Dream's on Me 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 63 (W 894), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
30 Moose the Mooche (incomplete) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 16, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3013, Sound Hills SSCD 8029, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 63 (W 894), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
31 Star Eyes (incomplete) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3013, Sound Hills SSCD 8029, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 63 (W 894), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641, Frémeaux & Associés FA 1341
32 Rocker (incomplete) 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3013, Sound Hills SSCD 8029, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641
33 Easy to Love 12" LP: Bird Box 01-22 LP 17, Audiofidelity AFE 3-7 CD: New Sound Planet JUTB 3014, Sound Hills SSCD 8030, Jazz Classics JZCL 5014, Philology Volume 64 (W 895), Rare Live Recordings RLR 88641

This was a benefit concert for Benjamin Davis, a member of the Communist Party and New York City Councilman who had recently been sentenced to five years in prison under the terms of the Smith Act. It was his contact with Davis that led the FBI to take formal action against Martin Luther King, Jr. in September 1958, although J. Edgar Hoover disliked King much earlier.

Parker apparently gave Chan a tape recorder for her birthday, and her recordings are the principal source of some of these items; these were originally issued in 1961 on Doris Sydnor Parker's Charlie Parker Records label (LP 401).

On the whole, the Jazz Classics CD represents a big improvement. The notes refer to a second tape, much better in quality and containing several items missing from Chan Parker's tape. In the case of several tunes there are significant speed discrepancies between the Bird Box version and the Jazz Classics version, but the latter claims "ALL performances are here with CORRECTLY issued for the first time, running at proper pitch & correct key." The audio producer even went to the trouble of constructing a "stereo" version of "Lester Leaps In" from the two extant monaural masters. There are also several splices where masters were combined. In most cases these edits are unobtrusive.

Parker's playing on some of the Quintet numbers is very strong -- listen especially to his solos on "Ornithology," "This Time the Dream's on Me," "Lester Leaps In," and "Moose the Mooche."

The two versions of "Sly Mongoose" on the Jazz Classics CD -- "Sly Mongoose #1" (3:43), "Sly Mongoose #2" (1:17) -- are excerpts of the longer version listed above. They are also about a semitone sharp. Thanks to Chieo Yamada for help with this session.