In celebration of “Bird’s” Centennial”, August 29, 2020, here are a couple of tunes from, perhaps, the greatest recording session of all time at the WOR Studios in New York on November 26,1945.  In addition, the video features the original Charlie Parker Quintet playing Out Of Nowhere, also recorded at the WOR Studios a few years later in1947 … with Miles Davis (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto sax), Duke Jordan (piano), Tommy Potter(bass), Max Roach (drums).

Ko-Ko, which sort of became Bird’s theme song, and Billie’s Bounce are both from the 1945 session.  It was the first session in two years due to a ban on such recording to save on shellac as part of the war rationing effort.  The dream date called for Parker, of course, Miles Davis on trumpet, Bud Powell on piano, Curly Russell on bass, and Max Roach on drums. However, Bud Powell couldn’t make the date and Dizzy Gillespie ended up playing piano, as well as sitting in for Miles on a few sets!

Next week Bird’s Centennial Celebration Part 2 features the only two existing pieces of footage showing Charlie Parker in performance.