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1949 |
Charlie Parker Chronology |
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Created by Leif Bo Petersen |
Last updated: December21, 2023. |
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Date |
Event |
References/Further Details |
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January |
Metronome Poll 1948 Alto sax 1. Charlie Parker 2. johnny Hodges 3. Willie Smith |
“Modernist Cop Top Poll Slots,”
Metronome, January 1949, 24–26, 28, 30, 32–34. |
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January |
Charlie Parker (as) Flip Phillips (ts) acc. by Machito and His Orchestra Mario Bauza, Frank Davilla,
Bob Woodlen (tp); Gene Johnson, Fred Skerritt (as); Jose Madera (ts); Leslie Johnakins
(bars); Rene Hernandez (p); Roberto Rodriguez (b); Jose Manguel (bgo); Luis
Miranda (cng); Umbaldo Nieto (timbales); Frank "Machito" Grillo
(maracas). Unidentified studio, New York, NY. Commercial recordings for Mercury. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490110 These recordings may come from the December Mercury session, but the
matrix numbers indicate a later date. However, Phil Schaap has told that
these matrix numbers come from the transfer of the original lacquers to
tapes, and that they are not the original numbers. |
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January early |
Various Artists January 1949: Release of New Sounds in Modern Music vol. 1 Reissue of Be Bop Savoy S 506 with new cover and new labels. 10" 78 rpm. album4 records
album) Charlie Parker appears only on 903-B. Fats Navarro only appears on 900 and 901. The Bebop Boys: Savoy 900-A Webb City Part One Savoy 900-B Webb City Part Two The Bebop Boys: Savoy 901-A Fat Boy Part One Savoy 901-B Fat Boy Part Two The Bebop Boys — James Moody: Savoy 902-A Moody Speaks Savoy 902-B Smokey Holley Jump The Bebop Boys - Stan Getz: Savoy 903-A Opus De Bop The Bebop Boys - Charlie Parker: Savoy 903-B Thriving from a Riff (Anthropology) |
Ad for Featherstun, Mt. Vernon Register-News, January 6,
1949: Mentions this album as just received latest releases. |
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January early |
Charlie Parker Releases of Dial 11006, 007, 1012 1014, 1021, and 1030 10” 78 rpm. records. Reissue of Dial 1006 with slightly differing labels. Dial 1006-A Curbstone Scuffle Recorded March 28, 1946. Charlie Parker Septet Dial 1006-B Bird Lore (Ornithology alt. take) Reissue of Dial 1007 with different labels. Recorded July 29, 1946. Howard McGhee Quintet Dial 1007-A Be Bop Charlie
Parker Dial
1007-B Lover Man Reissue of Dial 1007 with different labels. Recorded February 26, 1947. Charlie Parker All Stars Dial 1012-A Relaxin’ at Camarillo Serge Chaloff Quintet (no Parker participation) Dial 1012-B Blue Serge Reissue of Dial 1014 with new labels and containing
a different take of 1014-A. Recorded February 19, 1947. Charlie Parker Quartet Dial 1014-A Bird’s Nest Dial 1014-B Dark Shadows Single reissue of Dial 1021. Recorded November 2, 1947. Charlie Parker Quintet Dial 1021-A Scrapple from the Apple Dial 1021-B Don’t Blame Me Reissue of Dial 1012-A with new series number and
labels. Recorded February 26, 1947 Charlie Parker All Stars Dial 1030-A Relaxin’ at Camarillo Reissue of Dial 1012-B with a new series number and
label. Dial 1030-B Stupendous |
Baca Radio ad, Daily Northwestern (Evanston, IL.), January 14,
1949, 3: list of new releases has Dial 1006, 1007, 1012, 1014, and 1021. Hudson-Ross ad in Chicago Tribune, February 24, 1949, part 2,
15: Lists Dial 1030. “Disc Data,” Detroit Free Press, April 9, 1949, 18: Positive
mention of Dial 1021. |
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January |
JATP Release of Norman Granz’ Jazz at the Philharmonic
vol. 2 2 12” 78 rpm. records Reissue of Disc 501 on a new label. Recorded January 28, 1946. Jazz at the Philharmonic Mercury 1123 A Blues for Norman part I Mercury 1123 B Blues for Norman part II Mercury 1124 B I Can’t Get Started with You part I Mercury 1124 B I Can’t Get Started with You part II |
Ad for Lindsay Record Auditorium in Ottawa Journal, February 7,
1949, 9: lists this album set. |
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January |
JATP Including Charlie Parker Release of Norman
Granz’ Jazz at the Philharmonic vol. 3 3 10” 78 rpm. records. Reissue of Disc 503 by a new record company and in a
new format. Parker only appears on 11040 B, 11041 A, and 11041
B. Recorded January 28, 1946. Jazz at the Philharmonic Mercury 11039 A Crazy Rhythm part 1 Mercury 11039 B Sweet Georgia Brown part 3 Mercury 11040 A Crazy Rhythm part 2 Mercury 11040 B Sweet Georgia Brown part 2 Mercury 11041 A Crazy Rhythm part 3 Mercury 11041 B Sweet Georgia Brown part 1 |
Ad for Lindsay Record Auditorium in Ottawa Journal, February 7,
1949, 9: lists this album set. |
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January 1 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as);
Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d). Joe Harris seems to have subbed for
Roach at least on New Year’s Eve. Charlie Ventura Band Norman Faye (tp); Bennie Green (tb); Ben
Ventura (as); Charlie Ventura (ts, bas-s); Roy Kral (p); Ken O’Brien (b); Ed
Shaughnessy (d); Jackie Cain (voc). Billy Eckstine (voc) (Probably closing before January 6). Royal Roost, New York, NY. Closing January 6. January 1: WMCA broadcast. 2–4 a.m. Symphony Sid (mc). Charlie Parker Quintet incl. Joe Harris and Charlie
Ventura band Recordings exist. |
“Goings on About Town: Royal Roost,” New Yorker, January 1, 1949, 5: Eckstine, Parker, and Ventura. “Herd Opens Empire; Eckstine, Ellington
Skedded to Follow,” Billboard, December 11, 1948, 17: Eckstine planned
to open at the Empire Room, LA, on January 4. Statement of Charlie Parker account from the Gale Agency dated April
25, 1949. A scan is shown in K. Vail (ed.) Charlie Parker & Jazz Club Memorabilia (2007), 44: Shows January 5 receipt of $350
for Roost engagement. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490101 Boris Rose’s Birdland Book. Losin includes a jam session recording on
January 1, but according to Boris Rose’s list this comes from January 15. |
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January 2 |
Jazz at Its Best January 2, 1949 Broadcast WMGM: 2:30–3:25 p.m.: Jazz
at Its Best. Leonard Feather (prod.) Charlie Parker and Norman Granz were guests on the program. |
"Radio and TV," New York Times,"
January 2, 1949, 10X: WMGM: 2:30–3:25 p.m.: Jazz at Its Best. "On the Airlanes," New York Age, January 8, 1949, 2:
Parker and Granz in Feather's program. |
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January 3 |
Metronome All Stars Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro(tp); J.
J. Johnson, Kai Winding (tb); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Charlie Parker as); Charlie Ventura (ts); Ernie
Caceres (bars); Lennie Tristano (p); Billy Bauer (g); Eddie Safranski (b);
Shelly Manne (d); Pete Rugolo, Lennie Tristano (arr). Victor Studios, Studio 2, New York, NY. January 3, 1949, 7:30 pm.–1 am. Commercial recordings for RCA/Victor. Charlie Grean, Steve Sholes (Victor prod). Lou Layton (engineer). George Simon and Barry Ulanov were
present as Metronome producers. |
“G. Simon: ”Your Dream Date Comes True:
Metronome All Stats Wax Great Sides,” Metronome, March 1949, 13: Simon, who was present in the studio,
states that the order of trumpet solos on the long version of Overtime is Diz, Miles, and Fats.
This order has been disputed. I. Gitler, Liner notes to Dizzy Gillespie/The
Complete RCA Victor Recordings. Bluebird 07863 66528 2. (1995). T. Urbano, The Music of Miles Davis, http://www.themusicofmiles.com/articles/metronome-all-stars-1949/session.php “Diggin’
the Discs with Tom: Combo Jazz,” Down Beat, April 8, 1949, 14: The
reviewer states that it is Navarro who has the trumpet solo in this short
version of Overtime. “Records Noted,” Record Changer, June 1949,
13: The reviewer suggest that it may be Navarro on this short version of Overtime. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490103 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/Sessions.aspx?s=490103 For further details see L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation –
The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 237–38, 245–50. |
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January 7 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as);
Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d). Joe Harris replaced Max Roach for some
days in January because of Max Roach’s wedding. Charlie Ventura Band Norman Faye (tp); Bennie Green (tb); Ben
Ventura (as, bars); Charlie Ventura (ts, bars); Roy Kral (p); Ken O’Brien
(b); Ed Shaughnessy (d); Jackie Cain (voc). Conte Candoli replaced Norman Faye in
this period. Flip Phillips Band Incl. Flip Phillips (ts), Curly Russell
(b); Shelly Manne (d). (Closing January 18). Kenny Hagood (voc). Royal Roost, New York, NY. January 7—19. January 8: No surviving WMCA broadcast. January 15: WMCA broadcast. 3—4 a.m. Symphony Sid
(mc). Charlie Parker Quintet incl. Joe Harris
(d); Charlie Ventura band; Flip Phillips Band; Jam session. Here Candoli has
replaced Faye. Ben Ventura may still have been in the band. Recordings exist. Probably also Kenny Hagood, but
recordings seem not to have survived. |
“Goings on About Town: Royal Roost,” New Yorker, January 8, 1949, 6: Parker
Charlie Ventura, Flip Phillips. “Round Midnight,” Philadelphia Tribune, January 8, 1949, 12: Ventura and Parker
remain. Flip Phillips and Shelly Manne moved in yesterday. “Goings on About Town: Royal Roost,” New Yorker, January 15, 1949, 6:
Charlie Ventura, Charlie Parker, and through January 18 Flip Phillips.” "Dan
Burley's Back Door Stuff," New
York Age, January 15, 1949, 7: Flip Phillips, Charlie Parker Quintet,
Charlie Ventura, Kenny Hagood. “Music–As Written, Billboard, January 22, 1949:
20: Conte Candoli and Boots Mussuli replaced Norman Faye and Ben
Ventura. “Boppers Taking Breather In NYC,” Down Beat, 28 January 1949: 1: “Roost
held over the Charlie Ventura and Charlie Parker groups and added that of
another award winning saxist, Flip Phillips. To the lineup Kenny Hagood,
former Gillespie singer, also was added. Statement of Charlie Parker account from the Gale
Agency dated April 25, 1949. A scan is shown in K. Vail (ed.), Charlie Parker & Jazz Club Memorabilia (2007), 44: Shows January 12 receipt of
$450 for Roost engagement. Boris Rose’s Birdland Book. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490115 |
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January 20 |
Dinah Washington The Ravens Harry Belafonte Charlie Ventura Conte Candoli (tp); Bennie Green (tb);
Charlie Kennedy (as & bars); Charlie Ventura (ts & bars); Roy Kral
(p); Ken O’Brien (b): Ed Shaughnessy (d); Jackie Cain (voc). Charlie Kennedy was replaced by Boots
Mussuli during this engagement. Charlie Parker Quintet Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as);
Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d). Tadd Dameron Big Ten Leonard Hawkins (tp); Ted Kelly (tb);
Sahib Shihab (as): Benjamin Lundy (ts); Cecil Payne (bs); Tadd Dameron (p);
John Collins (g); Curley Russell (b); Kenny Clarke (d). (This band was at the Roost on Friday,
February 11, probably as relief for Charlie Parker, who performed for JATP at
Carnegie Hall this night but also had a broadcast spot at the Roost later in
the night). Royal Roost, New York, NY. January 20—February 16. January 22: WMCA broadcast. 3—4 a.m. Symphony Sid
(mc). Charlie Parker Quintet; Charlie Ventura
Orchestra. Recordings exist. Probably also Dinah Washington & the
Ravens and Belafonte, but recordings seem not to have survived. January 29: WMCA broadcast. 3—4 a.m. Symphony Sid
(mc). Charlie Parker Quintet; Charlie Ventura
Orchestra. Charlie Kennedy has replaced Ben Ventura here. Recordings exist. Probably also Dinah Washington & the
Ravens and Belafonte, but recordings seem not to have survived. February 5: WMCA broadcast. 3—4 a.m. Symphony Sid
(mc). Charlie Parker Quintet and Charlie
Ventura Orchestra. Recordings exist. Probably also Dinah Washington & the
Ravens and Belafonte, but recordings seem not to have survived. February 12: WMCA broadcast. 3—4 a.m. Symphony Sid
(mc). Tadd Dameron Big Ten and Charlie Parker
Quintet Recordings exist. Probably also Ventura, Dinah Washington
& the Ravens, and Belafonte, but recordings seem not to have survived. |
“Goings on About Town: Royal Roost,” New Yorker,
January 15, 1949, 6: “Dinah Washington will open Wednesday, January 19. K. Vail, Bird’s Diary (1996), 49: Shows ad
from unidentified newspaper: Opening Thursday: The Ravens, Dinah Washington,
and Harry Belafonte. Charlie Ventura and Charlie Parker held over. “Goings on
About Town: Royal Roost,” New Yorker, January 22, 1949, 6: Charlie
Ventura, Charlie Parker, and Dinah Washington. “Navy Vet, 24, Hit B’way Over Night,” Baltimore
Afro-American, February 12, 1949, first news section, 2: Harry Belafonte
auditioned at the Roost on January 11 and immediately got a 5-week contract. “On the Upbeat,” Variety, February 9, 1949,
48: Belafonte auditioned on a Monday night (after midnight?) and got a job at
the Roost. “Goings on
About Town: Royal Roost,” New Yorker, February 12, 1949: Charlie
Ventura and Charlie Parker. Dinah Washington sings, (through February 16).
Tadd Dameron and his band will replace the Ventura crowd on February 17. The Symphony Sid announcements on the broadcast of
February 12 states that Dameron’s group will open on Thursday after Dinah
Washington, The Ravens, and Charlie Ventura leaves on Wednesday. "Conte, Boots Join Ventura’s Bop-Styled
Band," Down Beat, April 8, 1949, 1: Photo from the Royal Roost
and text: Candoli and Mussuli are in the band. Statement of Charlie Parker account from the Gale
Agency dated April 25, 1949. A scan is shown in K. Vail (ed.), Charlie
Parker & Jazz Club Memorabilia (2007), 44: Shows January 19, 24,
February 3, 10, and 17 receipts of $600, for Roost engagements. Boris Rose’s Birdland Book. Symphony Sid in
R.G. Reisner, Bird - The
Legend of Charlie Parker (1963), 218–219: “I’ll never forget one night.
Charlie Parker, as you know, was using whatever he was using. We used to do a
Friday night remote where we took our microphones down to The Roost. We
usually started with our theme, “Jumping with Symphony Sid.” Parker got up
and, just about in the middle of the theme, sat down in a chair and fell
asleep—which to me was the wildest thing in the world. Here in the middle of
a broadcast—in the only program that was doing jazz—he falls asleep.” https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490122 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490129 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490205 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490212 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/Sessions.aspx?s=490212 |
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January late |
Charlie Parker Release of Savoy
Presents Charlie Parker Savoy S-510 3 10” 78 rpm. records album. These records were also sold as singles. Recorded September 18, 1948. Charlie Parker All Stars Savoy 937-A Steeplechase Savoy 937-B Merry Go-Round Savoy 938-A Perhaps Savoy 938-B Marmaduke Savoy 939-A Constellation Savoy 939-B Ah-Leu-Cha |
Hudson-Ross ad in Chicago Tribune, February 24, 1949, part 2,
15. "New Popular R: records," St. Louis Post-Dispatch,
March 23, 1949, 4D: mention of this album. Ad from Melody Shop, Pittsburgh Courier, April 30, 1949, 17:
Single records containing Constellation,
Marmaduke, and Steeplechase are listed. |
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January late |
Machito and His Orchestra Release of Mercury 11012. 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded December 20, 1948. Machito and His Orchestra (Soloist Flip Phillips) Mercury 11012-A No Noise part 1 (Soloist Charlie Parker) Mercury 11012-B No Noise part 2 |
"Advance Record Releases: Hot Jazz," Billboard,
February 5, 1949, 102. "Record Reviews: Hot Jazz," Billboard, February 19,
1949, 108: Positive review especially of the Parker side. "New Popular Records," St. Louis Post-Dispatch,
February 9, 1949, 4D: Positive mention. |
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February 11 |
Concert JATP Tour Group & Charlie Parker Charlie Parker (as); Fats Navarro (tp);
Tommy Turk (tb); Sonny Criss (as); Coleman Hawkins, Flip Phillips (ts); Hank
Jones (p); Ray Brown (b); Shelley Manne (d); Ella Fitzgerald (voc). Machito and his Orchestra featuring Charlie Parker Charlie Parker (as); Mario Bauza, Frank
Davilla, Bob Woodlen (tp); Gene Johnson, Fred Skerritt (as); Jose Madera
(ts); Leslie Johnakins (bs); Rene Hernandez (p); Roberto Rodriguez (b); Jose
Manguel (bgo); Luis Miranda (cng); Umbaldo Nieto (timbales); Frank Grillo
(maracas). February 11, 1949. 11:30 p.m. Carnegie Hall. New York, NY. Norman Granz (mc). JATP concert recordings exist. |
Ad in Daily News, February 9, 1949, 68.“With
a Hoot and a Howl, JATP Kicks Off Another,” Down Beat, April 8, 1949, 12: Review.Boris Rose Birdland
book: BOP - 1950 #16. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490211 |
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February mid |
Metronome All Stars Release of RCA-Victor 20-3361. 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded January 3, 1949. Metronome All Stars RCA Victor 20-3361-A Overtime RCA Victor 203361-B Victory Ball |
“New Popular Records," St. Louis
Post-Dispatch, February 23, 1949, 4D: Positive review. Mentions also a
12" release for collectors. G. Simon: ”Your Dream Date Comes True: Metronome All
Stats Wax Great Sides,” Metronome, March 1949, 13: mentions that a 12 “ record will be
released later. The 12” record release does not seem to have been realized. "Advance Record Releases: Hot Jazz," Billboard,
March 5, 1949, 35. "Record Reviews: Hot Jazz," Billboard,
March 26, 1949, 38: positive review. “Diggin’ the Discs with Tom: Combo Jazz,” Down
Beat, April 8, 1949, 14: Rating: Overtime: 3 notes (tasty); Victory
Ball: 4 notes (tops). “Records Noted,” Record Changer, June 1949,
13: Positive review. |
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February 17 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Kenny Dorham (tp);
Charlie Parker (as); Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d). Tadd Dameron Big Ten Miles Davis (tp);
Kai Winding (tb); Sahib Shihab (as); Benjamin Lundy (ts); Cecil Payne (bs);
Tadd Dameron (p); John Collins (g); Curley Russell (b); Kenny Clarke (d);
Carlos Vidal (cng). Harry Belafonte (voc) The Orioles (voc) (Maybe cancelled) Royal Roost, New York, NY. February 17-23,
1949. February 19: WMCA broadcast. 3–4 a.m. Symphony Sid (mc). Charlie Parker Quintet and Tadd Dameron Big Ten.
Probably also Belafonte and possibly also the Orioles, but recordings seem
not to have survived. Recordings exist. |
“Goings on About Town: Royal Roost,” New Yorker, February 12, 1949, 7: Tadd
Dameron and his band will replace Ventura on February 17. “Orioles Make Royal Roost,” Baltimore Afro-American, February 15,
1949, first news section, 8: “The Orioles will make their debut on Broadway
in headlining a four-week show at the Royal Roost, beginning Thursday. Statement of Charlie Parker account from the Gale Agency dated April
25, 1949. A scan is shown in K. Vail (ed.), Charlie Parker & Jazz Club Memorabilia (2007), 44: Shows
February 24 receipt of $600 Roost engagement. Boris Rose’s Birdland Book. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490219 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/Sessions.aspx?s=490219 Charles Delaunay, “Impressions
d’Amerique,” Jazz Hot, Avril 1949, 32–33: Photo of Delaunay presenting
a 2nd place alto sax Down
Beat 1949 Poll plaque to Parker at the Royal Roost, probably on Saturday,
February 19. |
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February 20 |
Be-Bop Benefit for Leo Parker Babs Gonsalves 3 Bips and A Bop; Charlie Parker,
Tadd Dameron, Wynton Kelly, Miles Davis, Cecil Payne, Jack ‘The Bear’ Parker,
Max Roach, Kenny Clarke, Sonny Rollins, Pee Wee Tinney, Dave Burns, Arturo
Phipps, and Tommy Potter. Royal Roost, New York, NY. 3-7 p.m. |
Ad in New York Amsterdam News,
January 22, 1949, 7. |
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February 21 |
Cavalcade of Stars Among others: Charlie Parker and Royal Roost Bob
[sic] Stars. Loew’s Victoria Theatre, New York NY. (Monday 20, midnight to 5 am.) Benefit for USO sponsored by the New York Age. |
"Tallulah Bankhead to Appear on Age Benefit Show at Victoria Feb.
21," New York Age, February
12, 1949, 1. Ad in New York Age February
19, 1949, 10. |
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February 21 |
WPIX Jazz Concert Charlie Parker Quintet Piero Picconi (p) Sidney Bechet Band Shorty Sherock (tp); Benny Morton (tb); Sidney
Bechet (ss); Joe Bushkin (p); Chubby Jackson (b); George Wettling (d). Teddy Hale (tap dance). WPIX TV studio, New York, NY. February 21, 1949, 7:30–8:00 p.m. Chubby Jackson and Charles Delaunay (mc). Sound recordings and a kinescope fragment exist. |
“Television,” Brooklyn
Eagle, February 21, 1949, 17: WPIX 7:30: Jazz concert with Dixieland
combo. “Television,” New York Times, February 21,
1949, ?: 7:30 pm.: WPIX: Jazz. Concert: Pierro Piccione [sic] pianist –
others. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490221 www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx_TIs8l6rA&feature=youtu.be http://jazzontherecord.blogspot.dk/ Charles Delaunay,
“Impressions d’Amerique,” Jazz Hot, Avril 1949, 32–33: Photo of
Delaunay presenting a 2nd place alto sax Down Beat 1949 Poll
plaque to Parker at the Royal Roost, probably on Saturday, February 19. A. Mazzoletti, Il jazz in Italia, Vol. 2:
Dallo swing agli anni Sessanta (2010,) 338. The
Italian pianist Piero Piccioni took part
in this program and substituted Al Haig in a quintet performance of Ko-Ko. He
also played in trio with Chubby Jackson and George Wettling. Here he was
probably accompanying Parker on the track of Now’s the Time. |
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February 24 |
Charlie Parker Septet Kenny Dorham (tp);
Charlie Parker (as); Lucky Thompson (ts); Milt Jackson (vib); Al Haig (p);
Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d). Tadd Dameron Big Ten Miles Davis (tp);
Kai Winding (tb); Sahib Shihab (as); Benjamin Lundy (ts); Cecil Payne (bs);
Tadd Dameron (p); John Collins (g); Curley Russell (b); Kenny Clarke (d);
Carlos Vidal (cng). Buddy Stewart & Dave Lambert (voc) Harry Belafonte (voc) Ginnie Powell (voc) Royal Roost, New York, NY. February 24-March 2. February 26: WMCA broadcast. 3–4 a.m. Symphony Sid (mc). Charlie Parker Septet; Tadd Dameron Big Ten; Stewart
& Lambert. Probably also Belafonte and Ginnie Powell, but recordings seem
not to have survived. Recordings exist. |
Ad in Daily
News, February 25, 1949, 63: Opening
tonight. Statement of Charlie Parker account from the Gale Agency dated April
25, 1949. A scan is shown in K. Vail (ed.), Charlie Parker & Jazz Club Memorabilia (2007), 44: Shows
March 3 receipt of $600 for Roost engagement. Boris Rose’s Birdland Book. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490226 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/Sessions.aspx?s=490226 |
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March |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Release of Coral 60034. Reissue of Decca 4418 on a new label. 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded July 2, 1942. Jay McShann and His Orchestra Coral 60034 A Get Me on Your Mind Coral 60034 B The Jumpin’ Blues |
“Record Reviews: Race,” Billboard, March 26, 1949, 117. |
|
March |
Charlie Parker Release of Dial 1003 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded December 17, 1947. Charlie Parker Quintet Dial 1034-A Crazeology Charlie Parker Dial 1034-B Crazeology II (3 ways of playing a chorus) |
"New Popular Records," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April
6, 1949, 4D: mention of this record. “Diggin’ the Discs with Mix: Combo Jazz,” Down Beat, June 17,
1949, 14: Rating: Crazeology
I: 1 note (tedious); Crazeology II
: 3 Notes (tasty). “Record Reviews,” Metronome, September 1949, 38: Crazeology:
C+ (fair); Crazeology II: B- (poor). |
|
March 3 |
Chubby Jackson Orchestra 13 pieces. (From March 4). Charlie Parker Septet Kenny Dorham (tp);
Charlie Parker (as); Lucky Thompson (ts); Milt Jackson (vib); Al Haig (p);
Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d). Buddy Stewart - Dave Lambert (voc). Tadd Dameron Big Ten Miles Davis (tp);
Kai Winding (tb); Sahib Shihab (as); Benjamin Lundy (ts); Cecil Payne (bs);
Tadd Dameron (p); John Collins (g); Curley Russell (b); Kenny Clarke (d);
Carlos Vidal (cng). Royal Roost, New York, NY. March 3-15. March 5: WMCA broadcast. 3–4 a.m. Symphony Sid (mc). Chubby Jackson, Charlie Parker Septet, Tadd Dameron,
and Stewart & Lambert. Recordings exist. March 12: WMCA broadcast. 3–4 a.m. Symphony Sid (mc). Chubby Jackson Orchestra and Charlie Parker Septet. Recordings exist. |
Ad in Brooklyn Eagle, March
3, 1949, 20: Opening tonight. “Music—As Written,” Billboard,
March 12, 1949, 29: Chubby Jackson’s 13-piece band opened yesterday on March
4 in a hurried booking. “Music—As Written,” Billboard,
March 5, 1949: 40: Lambert and Stewart double at the Apollo the week of April
4 [sic! Meaning March 4]. Statement of Charlie Parker account from the Gale Agency dated April
25, 1949. A scan is shown in K. Vail (ed.), Charlie Parker & Jazz Club Memorabilia (2007), 44: Shows
March 15 receipt of $690, and March 17 receipt of $113.92 for Roost
engagement. Boris Rose’s Birdland Book. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490305 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/Sessions.aspx?s=490305 https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490312 |
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March 5 |
Battle of Bands Charlie Parker All Stars Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as);
Lucky Thompson (ts); Milt Jackson (vib); Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max
Roach (d). Sidney Bechet Wilbur De Paris (tb); Buster Bailey
(cl); Sidney Bechet (ss); Ralph Sutton (p); Walter Page (b); George Wettling
(d). Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, NY. New York Herald Tribune (arr). Rudi Blesh (mc) Private recordings exist. |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490305c I have not been able to find this event in radio
logs, so the recording may be an audience recording. |
|
March 11 |
Adventures in Jazz Miles Davis, Max
Kaminsky, Yank Lawson Kai Winding, Joe Marsala, Charlie Parker, Joe Sullivan,
Mike Coluccio, Specs Powell, Max Roach, Ann Hathaway; Will Bradley Orchestra;
Bill Williams (mc). WCBS-TV Show. 8-8:30 p.m. Probably prerecorded on kinescope. Parts of the soundtrack of this show have survived. |
"Programs on the Air," New York Times, March 11,
1949, 50: Joe Sullivan, Yank Lawson, Joe Marsala, Charlie Parker, and others. https://www.plosin.com/MilesAhead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490304 The conventional date for these recordings is March 4, but the
television program in New York Times
show another program on this date. "Programs on the Air," New York Times, March 11,
1949, 50: Mildred Bailey, Ellis Larkin, Chubby Jackson, and others. “Men Here Blew Fine Underwood,” Billboard,
March 12, 1949, 48: This notice tells that the program of March 4 had a
quintet of jazz critics performing Exactly
Like You (Bill Simon, Mike Levine, Leonard Feather, Les Lieber, and
George Simon. |
|
March 13 |
Bop in The Bronx Miles Davis (tp); Kai Winding (tb); Charlie Parker
(as); Ike Quebec (ts); Milt Jackson (vib); Tadd Dameron (p); Curly Russell
(b); Max Roach (d). Bronx Winter Garden, New York, NY. 2 p.m. |
Ad in New York Amsterdam News,
March 12, 1949, 4. |
|
March mid |
Charlie Parker Quintet? Graham, Newark, NJ. Weekend engagement. |
“Jersey Nights,” New
York Age, March 26, 1949, 11. Statement of Charlie Parker account from the Gale Agency dated April
25, 1949. A scan is shown in K. Vail (ed.), Charlie Parker & Jazz Club Memorabilia (2007), 44: Shows
March 23 receipt of $220 for Newark and Philadelphia dates. |
|
March mid |
Charlie Parker Quintet? Philadelphia, PA. |
Statement of Charlie Parker account from the Gale Agency dated April
25, 1949. A scan is shown in K. Vail (ed.), Charlie Parker & Jazz Club Memorabilia (2007), 44: Shows
March 23 receipt of $220 for Newark and Philadelphia dates. |
|
March 25 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as);
Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d). Amity Hall, Buffalo, NY. 10–2 a.m. |
K. Vail, Bird's
Diary (1996), 54: Contract is shown. |
|
March late |
Charlie Parker Release of Mercury 11017 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded December 20, 1948. Charlie
Parker soloist - Machito and His Orchestra Mercury 11017-A Mango Mangue Mercury 11017-B Okiedoke |
"New Popular Records," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March
23, 1949, 4D: positive mention of record. "Advance Record Releases," Billboard, March 26, 1949,
115. "Record Reviews: Hot Jazz," Billboard, April 16,
1949, 138: review. “Diggin’ the Discs with Mix: Band Jazz,” Down Beat, May 20,
1949, 14: Rating: Both sides: 3 notes (tasty). Very positive. |
|
March 28 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as);
Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d);
Arthur “Junior” Daniels (voc). Larry Steele and His Revue Featuring Patterson & Jackson
(comedy); Ralph Brown Rhythmites Trio; Ethel Duncan Lonnie Simmons and His Band New Beige Room, Pershing Hotel, Chicago,
IL. Probably March 28–April 8. Existing private recordings (lacquers)
from Pershing Ballroom may be from this period. |
Ad in Chicago
Defender April 2, 1949, 35: Charlie Parker featuring Max Roach at the New
Beige Room. “Where the Bands Are Playing,” Down Beat, April 8, 1949, 17: Gives dates March 28–April 10. “Windy City Chatter,” Plaindealer (Kansas City, KS), April 8, 1949, 5: Parker at the
Beige Room, opposite Patterson & Jackson (comedians), also Lonnie Simmons
and his Band. Larry Siecle [sic] (mc). Al Benson owner. Ad in Chicago
Defender April 9, 1949, 39: Ivory Joe Hunter at the New Beige Room. “Chicago Band Briefs,” Down Beat, April 22, 1949, 4: Tells this engagement was
cancelled. “Chicago Band Briefs," Down Beat, May 6,
1949, 4: Tells that Parker came anyway with his quintet and Arthur Daniels. Statement of Charlie Parker account from the Gale Agency dated April
25, 1949. A scan is shown in K. Vail (ed.), Charlie Parker & Jazz Club Memorabilia (2007), 44: Shows
April 12 receipt of $490 for Chicago, Beige Room engagement. https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490328 |
|
April early |
Charlie Parker Quintet Roosevelt College, Chicago, IL. |
J. Segal, “Bird in Chicago,” Down Beat, March
11, 1965, 18: Segal mentions an appearance of the Parker quintet at Roosevelt
sponsored by a group of students. |
|
April 11 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Music Bowl, Chicago, IL. April 11-24. Cancelled. |
“Chicago Band Briefs,” Down Beat. March 11, 1949, 4:
Two weeks following the engagement at Beige Room. Starting April 11."Tower Ticker," Chicago Tribune, March 9, 1949, 27: The Music Bowl
has folded and will become a taxi dance resort. “Billie Gets
Month’s Delay in Dope Trial,” Down Beat,
April 8, 1949, 1: Billie Holiday was scheduled to go into the Music Bowl on
April 15, but the Bowl folded. |
|
April mid |
Charlie Parker Quintet Miramar Ballroom, Gary, IN. |
“Stravinsky, Bird, Vibes Gas Roach,” Down Beat, June 3, 1949, 6: In this interview with Max Roach the
Gary, IN, gig is mentioned as coming some days after the end of the Beige
Room gig. |
|
April mid |
Charlie Parker Quintet Mirror Ballroom, Detroit, MI. Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as);
Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d); Arthur “Junior” Daniels (voc). |
Unpublished Gary Garner interview with
Oliver Shearer. This engagement was while Dizzy Gillespie was
performing at the Paradise Theater. Ad in Detroit Free Press, April 12, 1949, 21: Dizzy Gillespie
played at the re-opened Paradise Theater April 15–21, 1949. A photo from this Mirror event may exist: https://www.instagram.com/p/CEea9GJjQcq/ |
|
April 24 |
Charlie Parker and His All-Star Boppers Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as);
Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d); Arthur “Junior” Daniels (voc). 8:30 p.m. Bushnell Memorial Auditorium, Hartford,
CT. Art Slade (mc). |
Ad in Springfield
Union, CT. April 21, 1949, 27 Ad in Hartford
Courant, April 24, 1949, 8 E. "Many-sided Slade," Hartford Courant, April 24, 1949: Last of six popular concerts
produced by Art Slade. Bringing Charlie Parker and his outfit from New York.
"In the crew, there is a lad billed only as Junior. He was Billy
Eckstine's valet before that big number found he had talent." "Bebop Music Concert Held at Bushnell," Hartford Courant,
April 25, 1949: Review. Arthur Daniels mentioned. |
|
April 29 |
Charlie Parker Quintet Kenny Dorham (tp); Charlie Parker (as);
Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d). Lester Young Band Incl. Jesse Drakes (tp); Lester Young
(ts); Roy Haynes (d). Coliseum, Baltimore, MD. Shriners Charity Ball. |
“Shriners Give TV Set at Charity Dance,” Baltimore Afro-American, April 30,
1949, 1st news section 14: Concert at Coliseum Friday. August Blume in R. Reisner: Bird: The Legend of Charlie Parker (1962), 55. |
|
Spring |
Charlie Parker Release of Savoy 945. 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded November 26, 1945. Charlie Parker and the Be Bop Boys Savoy 945 A Warming up a Riff (alternative take of Ko Ko) The Be Bop Boys Savoy 945 B Thriving on a Riff (Anthropology) (alternative take of Thriving’ from
a Riff) |
The release date is not identified. Probably spring 1949, judging from
the series numbers. "Advance Records Releases," Billboard, April 30,
1949, 127: Lists Savoy 944. |
|
May |
Charlie Parker Release of Bird Blows
the Blues Dial DLP1 12 " 33 rpm. LP. Promo edition without a cover). A commercial release of this record took place in December
1949. Takes not previously released, with exception of
1071-A and 1102-B. Charlie Parker and His Bebop Groups DLP1 A: Recorded February 26, 1947. Relaxing at Camarillo (1071-A) Carving the Bird (1073-B) Recorded February 19, 1947. Dark Shadows (1052-B) Recorded February 19, 1947. Blowtop Blues (Bird's Nest) (1054-A) Recorded October 28, 1947. Bongobop (Bongo Bop) (1102-A) Recorded February 19, 1947. Cool Blues (1054-C) DLP1 B: Recorded February 26, 1947. Relaxing at Camarillo (1071-A) Carvin’ the Bird (1073-B) Recorded February 19, 1947. Dark Shadows (1052-B) Blowtop Blues (1054-A) Recorded October 28, 1947: Bongobop
(1102-A) Recorded February 19, 1947. Cool Blues (1954-C) |
”Parker Bop Alto on 40-min. Disk,” Billboard, May 21, 1949, 35. “Diggin’ the Discs with Mix: Combo Jazz,” Down Beat July 29, 1949, 14:
Rating: Whole album: 3 notes (tasty). “Album Reviews,” Billboard,
December 24, 1949, 94: Review of the commercial edition: Album with limited
appeal. |
|
May early? |
Charlie Parker Quintet Kenny Dorham (tp); Tommy Turk (tb);
Charlie Parker (as); Al Haig (p); Tommy Potter (b); Max Roach (d); Carlos
Vidal (cng). Unidentified studio, New York, NY. Commercial recordings for Mercury. May early? |
https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490505a https://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=490505b The recordings that include Tommy Turk and Carlos Vidal have earlier
been dated April 1949. Tommy Turk was touring with JATP until March 30 and
was afterwards playing in Detroit until late April. Charlie Parker was out of
New York most of April, so one session for all the material sounds more
plausible. |
|
May 5 |
Festival International 1949 de Jazz Sidney Bechet, Kenny Clarke, Tadd
Dameron, Margaret Dameron, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Al Haig, “Big Chief”
Russell Moore, Hot Lips Page, Charlie
Parker, Tommy Potter, Max Roach. Departure to Paris. |
www.ancestry.com: Air France flight no 008/90. New York,–Gander, Newfoundland–Shannon,
Eire–Paris France. |