User:Tquinn86/Charlie Parker on Savoy

Jazz alto saxophonist Charlie Parker recorded as a leader between 1944 and his death in 1955. The majority of his output was captured on three labels: Savoy, Dial and Clef (with reissues on Verve). This article deals with the Savoy studio sessions, which ran from 1944-1949. Live recordings of Parker were also released by Savoy (all of them posthumously); those recordings are covered elsewhere. Other similar articles deal with the Dial and Clef sessions.

The original issues from these sessions were on 78 rpm singles. Some of the early sessions were originally credited to other leaders (noted below), though all of these sessions were eventually reissued under Parker's name. With the advent of long playing record formats, these singles were compiled into albums, frequently including unreleased takes. As Parker's fame and reputation grew through the years, the sessions were recomiled several more times into complete configurations including all takes, and released on LP and CD.

The Savoy studio recordings were made over the course of 8 sessions. The name of the original group which performed each session is noted below. "Takes" refers to the number of eventually released perforances of each song. All compositions by Charlie Parker unless otherwise noted.

The Sessions

The name of the original group which performed each session is noted below. "Takes" refers to the number of eventually released perforances of each song. All compositions by Charlie Parker unless otherwise noted.

Session 1 -- The Tiny Grimes Quintette: September 15, 1944

WOR Studios, NYC

Parker's first sessions on Savoy were as a sideman with the Tiny Grimes Quintette. Tiny Grimes was an guitarist who had played with Art Tatum, and became known more for R&B than jazz. The four tracks in this session were all released under Grimes name originally. The two instrumental tracks (Tiny's Tempo and Red Cross) were subsequently released under Parker's name as well. All takes were eventually (re)issued on Parker anthologies.

1. "Tiny's Tempo" (Tiny Grimes, Clyde Hart) [3 takes]
2. "I'll Always Love You Just the Same" (Grimes) [2 takes]
3. "Romance Without Finance" (Grimes) [5 takes]
4. "Red Cross" [2 takes]

Session 2 -- Charlie Parker Reboppers: November 26, 1945

WOR Studios, NYC

This session is regarded as the first recordings of bebop. It is also full of controversy, as it still unknown precisely who played what on each take. It is established that Parker is the saxophonist on all takes, and that Curley Russell and Max Roach were bassist and drummer respectively, on all takes. Miles Davis certainly plays trumpet on most of the takes, but Dizzy Gillespie was also present to play piano in place of Bud Powell who was out of town. Pianist Sadik Hakim (then known as Argonne Thornton) was also known to be present, and may have played on some of the takes, though some sources say he did not play due to a Musician's Union representatives presence and Hakim\Thornton was not yet in the Union.

It is fairly well established that Gillespie is the trumpeter on Ko-Ko though both 78 rpm releases of the song (Savoy 597 and 916) list Davis as trumpeter; many sources state that Gillespie replaced Miles due to the difficulty of the tune and Miles' nerves, youth and inexperience. Gillespie may have also played piano behind Parker's solo, though this is disputed. The identity of the pianist is obscured by the credit of "Hen Gates" as the pianist on all but one of the pressings. Hen Gates is a pseudonym most closely associated with pianist James Forman, who played with Gillespie, though has been associated with Gillespie as well. Here it could refer to Gillespie (who was under contract to a different label at the time of these recordings) or to Hakim\Thornton due to the aforementioned union dispute.

The master take of Thriving on a Riff was released twice on 78: Savoy 913 lists the song title as "Thriving from a Riff" and lists the pianist as "Hen Gates". Savoy 945 lists the song title as "Thriving on a Riff" and lists the pianist as Dizzy Gillespie. The tune would later be known as "Anthropology." All other 78 releases from this session (Savoy 573, 597, 916, 918) list the pianist as "Hen Gates."

1. "Warming up a Riff"
2. "Billie's Bounce" [5 takes]
3. "Now's the Time" [4 takes]
4. "Thriving on a Riff" (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie) [3 takes]
5. "Ko-Ko" [2 takes]
6. "Meandering"

Session 3 -- Charlie Parker All Stars: May 8, 1947

Harry Smith Studios, NYC

1. "Donna Lee" [5 takes]
2. "Chasin' the Bird" [4 takes]
3. "Cheryl" [2 takes]
4. "Buzzy" (5 takes)

Session 4 -- Miles Davis All Stars: August 14, 1947

Harry Smith Studios, NYC

Miles Davis' first session as a leader featured Charlie Parker on tenor saxophone, instead of his usual alto. Davis wrote all of the songs on this session.

1. "Milestones" (Miles Davis) [3 takes]
2. "Little Willie Leaps" (Davis) [3 takes]
3. "Half Nelson" (Davis) [2 takes]
4. "Sippin' at Bells" (Davis) [4 takes]

Session 5 -- Charlie Parker Quintette: December 21, 1947

United Sound Systems, Detroit, MI

1. "Another Hair-Do" [4 takes]
2. "Bluebird" [3 takes]
3. "Klaunstance"
4. "Bird Gets the Worm" [3 takes]

Session 6 -- Charlie Parker All Stars: September 18, 1948

Harry Smith Studios, NYC

1. "Barbados" [4 takes]
2. "Ah-Leu-Cha" [2 takes]
3. "Constellation" [5 takes]
4. "Parker's Mood" [5 takes]

Session 7 -- Charlie Parker All Stars: September 24, 1948

Harry Smith Studios, NYC

1. "Perhaps" [7 takes]
2. "Marmaduke" [11 takes]
3. "Steeplechase" [2 takes]
4. "Merry-Go-Round" [2 takes]

Personnel

• Charlie Parker - alto saxophone
• Clyde Hart - piano (session 1)
• Tiny Grimes - guitar, vocals (session 1)
• Jimmy Butts - double bass, vocals (session 1)
• Doc West - drums (session 1)
• Miles Davis - trumpet (session 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
• Sadik Hakim - piano (session 2)
• Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet, piano (session 2)
• Curly Russell - double bass (session 2, 6, 7)
• Max Roach - drums (session 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
• Bud Powell  piano (session 3)
• Tommy Potter - double bass (session 3, 5)
• John Lewis - piano (session 4, 6, 7)
• Nelson Boyd - double bass (session 4)
• Duke Jordan - piano (session 5)

Singles

Singles released by Savoy include the following:

Savoy 500\600 Series (10 inch 78 rpm)

Cat. No.	Artist	Matrix No.	Title	Notes
526	Tiny Grimes Quintette	S-5710	"Tiny's Tempo"
		S-5711	"I'll Always Love You Just the Same"
532	Tiny Grimes Quintette	S-5712	"Romance Without Finance"
		S-5713	"Red Cross"
541	Charlie Parker	S-5713	"Red Cross"	Reissue of instrumentals from 526 and 531 under Parker's name.
		S-5710	"Tiny's Tempo"
567	Tiny Grimes Quintette	S-5711	"I'll Always Love You Just the Same"	Another re-issue of songs from session 1, crediting both Parker and Grimes
	Charlie Parker	S-5713	"Red Cross"
573	Charley Parker's Ree Boppers	SAV-5850	"Billie's Bounce"	Pianist listed as "Hen Gates"
		SAV-5851	"Now's The Time"
597	Don Byas Quintette	Sav-5846	"How High the Moon"	Side A is a separate Don Byas group. Side B lists Hen Gates, piano and Miles Davis trumpet.
	Charlie Parker's Ri Bop Boys	Sav-5853	"Ko-Ko"
613	Tiny Grimes Quintette	S-5711	"I'll Always Love You Just The Same"	Another reissue of songs from session 1 credited to Grimes.
		S-5712	"Romance Without Finance"
652	Charley Parker with Miles Davis, trumpet	S-3423	"Buzzy"	Davis gets secondary credit here. Bassist Tommy Potter is credited as "Charlie Potter". The drummer is credited as "Max Roache".
		S-3420	"Donna Lee"

Savoy Bop 900 Series (10 inch 78 rpm)

Savoy's 900 series was dedicated to Bebop. It featured purple labels with "Bop" added to the logo.

Cat. No.	Artist	Matrix No.	Title	Notes
903	The Be Bop Boys	3321	"Opus de Bop"	Records 900-903 were all credited to "The Be Bop Boys" but featured several different groups. Side 1 of 903 is a Stan Getz led group. Side 2 is from session 2 above, pianist listed as "Hen Gates"
		SAV-5852	"Thriving from a Riff"
914	Charlie Parker	S-5713	"Red Cross"	Reissue of Savoy 541
		S-5710	"Tiny's Tempo"
916	Don Byas Quintette	Sav-5846	"How High the Moon"	Reissue of Savoy 597, same personnel listing.
	Charlie Parker's Ri Bop Boys	Sav-5853	"Ko-Ko"
918	Charlie Parker	SAV-5850	"Billie's Bounce"	Pianist listed as Hen Gates
		SAV-5851	"Now's The Time"
925	Tiny Grimes Quintette	S-5711	"I'll Always Love You Just The Same"	Reissue of Savoy 613
		S-5712	"Romance Without Finance"
928	Charley Parker with Miles Davis, trumpet	S-3423	Buzzy	Reissue of Savoy 652
		S-3420	"Donna Lee"
934	Miles Davis All Stars	S-3440	"Milestones"	Parker listed as playing alto sax, though he played tenor on this session. Drummer listed as "Max Roache".
		S-3443	"Sipping at Bell's"
936	Charlie Parker All Stars	B-900	"Barbados"	No pianist listed. Drummer listed as "Max Roache".
		B-903	"Parker's Mood"
937	Charlie Parker All Stars	B-910	"Steeplechase"	Drummer listed as "Max Roache".
		B-911	"Merry Go-Round"
938	Charlie Parker All Stars	B-908	"Perhaps"	Drummer listed as "Max Roache".
		B-909	"Marmaduke"
939	Charlie Parker All Stars	B-902	"Constellation"	Drummer listed as "Max Roache."
		B-901	"Ah-Leu-Cha"
945	Charlie Parker and the Be Bop Boys	Sav. 5849	"Warming up a Riff"	"Thriving on a Riff" is reissue of "Thriving from a Riff" on Savoy 903. No personnel listing on side A. Dizzy Gillespie credited on piano on Side B.
	The Be Bop Boys	Sav. 5852	"Thriving on a Riff"
951	Fats Navarro-Leo Parker	S-3386	"Going to Mintons"	Side A is a separate Fats Navarro-Leo Parker led group.
	Miles Davis-Charlie Parker	S-3442	"Half-Nelson"
952	Charlie Parker All Stars	D-833	"Bird Gets the Worm"	Both sides credit Duke Jordan on piano, though Cheryl is from session 3 with Bud Powell.
		S-3422	"Cheryl"
961	Charlie Parker Quintette	D-830	"Another Hair-Do"
		D-831	"Bluebird"
967	Charlie Parker All Stars	D-832	"Klaunstance"	Side B is a separate Stan Getz led group. Drummer on side A listed as "Max Roache".
	Stan Getz All Stars	38128	"Slow"
977	Charlie Parker's All Stars	S-3421	"Chasing the Bird"	On side A bassist Tommy Potter is billed as "Charlie Potter". On side B, Parker is billed as "THE BIRD" on tenor sax.
	Miles Davis All Stars	S-3441	"Little Willie Leaps"

The Bel-tone Session

Slim Gaillard Orchestra: December 29, 1945

Hollywood, CA

This session was recorded for the short-lived Bel-Tone label, which released these tracks on 78rpm singles. Slim Gaillard's records were acquired by Majestic Records when Bel-tone folded who reissued these records on 78s. Majestic did not last out the 1940s; Savoy then acquired the rights and reissued these tracks on 10" and 12" LPs under Parker's name.

1. "Dizzy Boogie" (Dizzy Gillespie)
2. "Flat Foot Floogie" (Slim Gaillard, Bud Green, Slam Stewart)
3. "Poppity Pop" (Gaillard)
4. "Slim's Jam" (Gaillard)

Personnel

• Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet
• Charlie Parker - alto saxophone
• Jack McVea - tenor saxophone
• Dodo Marmarosa - piano
• Slim Gaillard - piano, guitar, vocals
• Bam Brown - double bass, vocals
• Zutty Singleton - drums

7 inch EPs and 10 inch LPs

As new formats became available in the early 1950's Savoy reissued all of the original 78 rpm recordings on both the 7" 45 rpm EP format and the 10" 33+1⁄3 rpm LP format.

7 inch EPs

Charlie Parker, Vol. 1 (Savoy XP 8000)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tiny's Tempo" (session 1)
2.	"Red Cross" (session 1)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Billie's Bounce" (session 2)
2.	"Now's the Time" (session 2)

Charlie Parker, Vol. 2 (Savoy XP 8001)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ko-Ko" (session 2)
2.	"Warming Up a Riff" (session 2)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Parker's Mood" (session 6)
2.	"Donna Lee" (session 3)

Charlie Parker, Vol. 3 (Savoy XP 8002)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Chasin' the Bird" (session 3)
2.	"Buzzy" (session 3)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Another Hair-Do" (session 5)
2.	"Bird Get's the Worm" (session 5)

Charlie Parker, Vol. 4 (Savoy XP 8003)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Cheryl" (session 3)
2.	"Bluebird" (session 5)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Barbados" (session 6)
2.	"Perhaps" (session 7)

Charlie Parker, Vol. 5 (Savoy XP 8004)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Milestones" (session 4)
2.	"Sipping at Bells" (session 4)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Klaunstance" (session 5)
2.	"Merry-Go-Round" (session 7)

Charlie Parker, Vol. 6 (Savoy XP 8005)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Half Nelson" (session 4)
2.	"Confirmation" (live session 1)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ah-Leu-Cha" (session 6)
2.	"Steeplechase" (session 7)

Charlie Parker, Vol. 7 (Savoy XP 8006)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Thriving on a Riff" (session 2)
2.	"Little Willie Leaps" (session 4)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Constellation" (session 6)
2.	"Marmaduke" (session 7)

Various Artists -- Bird - Diz - Bud - Max, Vol. 1 (Savoy XP 8097)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ko-Ko" (session 2)
2.	"Dizzy Boogie" (Bel-tone session)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Flat Foot Floogie" (Bel-tone session)
2.	"Blues in Bebop" (unrelated session)

Various Artists -- Bird - Diz - Bud - Max, Vol. 2 (Savoy XP 8098)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Poppity Pop" (Bel-tone session)
2.	"Slim's Jam" (Bel-tone session)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Diz-Iz" (unrelated session)
2.	"Little Willie Leaps" (session 4)

10 inch LPs

Charlie Parker, Vol. 1 (Savoy MG 9000)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Now's the Time" (session 2)
2.	"Donna Lee" (session 3)
3.	"Chasin' the Bird" (session 3)
4.	"Red Cross" (session 1)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ko-Ko" (session 2)
2.	"Warming up a Riff" (session 2)
3.	"Half Nelson" (session 4)
4.	"Sippin' at Bells" (session 4)

Charlie Parker, Vol. 2 (Savoy MG 9001)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Billie's Bounce" (session 2)
2.	"Cheryl" (session 3)
3.	"Milestones" (session 4)
4.	"Another Hair-Do" (session 5)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Thriving on a Riff" (session 2)
2.	"Buzzy" (session 3)
3.	"Little Willie Leaps" (session 4)
4.	"Klaunstance" (session 5)

Charlie Parker, Vol. 3 (Savoy MG 9010)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bluebird" (session 5)
2.	"Bird Gets the Worm" (session 5)
3.	"Parker's Mood" (session 6)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Steeplechase" (session 7)
2.	"Perhaps" (session 7)
3.	"Tiny's Tempo" (session 1)

Charlie Parker, Vol. 4 (Savoy MG 9011)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Constellation" (session 6)
2.	"Merry-Go-Round" (session 7)
3.	"Riff Warmer (Confirmation)" (live session 1)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Barbados" (session 6)
2.	"Ah-Leu-Cha" (session 6)
3.	"Marmaduke" (session 7)

Various Artists -- The Birth of Bop, Vol. 1 (Savoy MG 9022)

This is a compilation of various bop tracks, only the first features Parker.

Side A

No.	Title	Artist	Length
1.	"Romance Without Finance" (session 1)	Charlie Parker, alto sax
2.	"Dexter's Minor Mad"	Dexter Gordon, tenor sax
3.	"Jay Bird"	J. J. Johnson, trombone

Side B

No.	Title	Artist	Length
1.	"Hearing Bells"	Milt Jackson, vibes
2.	"Chase 'n' the Lion"	Leo Parker, baritone sax
3.	"Stan's Mood"	Stan Getz, tenor sax

Various Artists -- Bird - Diz - Bud - Max (Savoy MG 9034)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Slim's Jam" (Bel-tone session)
2.	"Poppity Pop" (Bel-tone session)
3.	"Co-Coa (Ko-Ko)" (session 2)

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Blues a la Bud" (unrelated session)
2.	"Wailing Willie (Little Willie Leaps)" (session 4)
3.	"Diz-Iz" (unrelated session)

12 inch LPs

As the longer playing 12 inch LP format came into vogue, Savoy began to reissue the Parker catalog along with previously unreleased takes. Each of the albums listed below features various takes where available. The name of the take is as listed on the LP. The original master takes as previously released are shown in boldface.

12000 Series

The 12000 series of 12 inch LPs is Savoy's first set in this format. Within this series, multiple takes may be combined into a single LP track. These are reflected in the listings below.

Charlie Parker Memorial, Vol. 1 (Savoy MG 12000)

Main article: Charlie Parker Memorial, Vol. 1

The Immortal Charlie Parker (Savoy MG 12001)

Main article: The Immortal Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker Memorial, Vol. 2 (Savoy MG 12009)

Main article: Charlie Parker Memorial, Vol. 2

The Genius of Charlie Parker (Savoy MG 12014)

Main article: The Genius of Charlie Parker

The Charlie Parker Story (Savoy MG 12079)

Main article: The Charlie Parker Story