Dave Coleman, a jazz promoter, had taken over management of the club in 1949. Through Coleman’s personal initiative, the Hi-Hat enjoyed its most successful years, and by 1951 it was the only club featuring a consistent policy of presenting modern jazz.
Between 1953 and 1954 Charlie Parker made several visits to Boston, where he was often hired to play as a “single” at the Hi-Hat, backed by local musicians. The performances contained in these two albums come from radio broadcasts emceed by famed disc-jockey “Symphony Sid” (Sid Torin), duplicating here his New York role from the control booth inside the Hi-Hat for his nightly radio show on WCOP.
- Charlie Parker (as),
- Herb Pomeroy, Herbie Williams (tp),
- Jay Migliori (ts),
- Dean Earle, Rollins Griffith (p),
- Bernie Griggs, Jimmy Woode (b),
- Bill Graham, Marquis Foster, George Solano (d)
CD 1
01. Opening announcements by SST and Bird 0:40
02. Cool Blues (Parker) 5:38
03. Scrapple from the Apple (Parker) 7:11
04. SST introduces the members of the band 0:57
05. Laura (Raksin) 6:34
06. SST talks to Bird introduces the next tune 0:53
07. Cheryl (Parker) 5:43
08. Ornithology (Parker-Harris) 6:24
09. 52nd Street (Monk) and closing announcements 1:29
10. SST introduces Bird 0:09
11. Ornithology (Parker-Harris) 7:44
12. SST and Bird introduce the next number 0:30
13. My Little Suede Shoes (Parker) 7:09
14. Bird introduces the next tune 0:28
15. Now’s the Time (Parker) 6:57
16. Groovin’ High (Parker-Gillespie) 6:02
CD 2
01. Cool Blues (Parker) 6:48
02. Out of Nowhere (Green-Heyman) 5:42
03. My Funny Valentine (Rodgers-Hart) 6:32
04. Ornithology (Parker-Harris) 4:56
05. Cool Blues (Parker) 6:09
06. My Little Suede Shoes (Parker) incomplete 6:01
07. Bird talks to SST 1:01
08. Ornithology (Parker-Harris) 7:35
09. SST introduces the Hi-Hat All Stars and talks to Bird 1:23
10. Out of Nowhere (Green-Heyman) 4:22
11. Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid (Young) and closing announcements by SST 2:34
12. Now’s the Time (Parker) 9:13
13. SST and Bird introduce the Hi-Hat All Stars 0:50
14. Out of Nowhere (Green-Heyman) 5:48
15. My Little Suede Shoes (Parker) 5:01
16. Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid (Young) and closing announcements by SST 1:07
Personnel on CD 1
Tracks #1-9: Charlie Parker, alto sax; Herb Pomeroy, trumpet; Dean Earle, piano; Bernie Griggs, bass; Bill Graham, drums.
Recorded Sunday, June 14, 1953
Tracks #10-16: Charlie Parker, alto sax; Herbie Williams, trumpet; Rollins Griffith, piano; Jimmy Woode, bass; Marquis Foster, drums.
Probably recorded on January 1954
Personnel on CD 2
Tracks #1-4: Charlie Parker, alto sax; Herb Pomeroy, trumpet; with probably Dean Earle, piano; Bernie Griggs, bass; Bill Graham, drums.
Probably recorded on June 1953
Tracks #5-11: Charlie Parker, alto sax; Herbie Williams, trumpet; Rollins Griffith, piano; Jimmy Woode, bass; Marquis Foster, drums.
Exact date unknown, but recorded between January 18-24, 1954
Tracks #12-16: Charlie Parker, alto sax; Herbie Williams, trumpet; Jay Migliori, tenor sax; Rollins Griffith, piano; Jimmy Woode, bass; George Solano, drums.
Recorded Saturday, January 23, 1954
01. Opening announcements by SST and Bird 0:40
02. Cool Blues (Parker) 5:38
03. Scrapple from the Apple (Parker) 7:11
04. SST introduces the members of the band 0:57
05. Laura (Raksin) 6:34
06. SST talks to Bird introduces the next tune 0:53
07. Cheryl (Parker) 5:43
08. Ornithology (Parker-Harris) 6:24
09. 52nd Street (Monk) and closing announcements 1:29
10. SST introduces Bird 0:09
11. Ornithology (Parker-Harris) 7:44
12. SST and Bird introduce the next number 0:30
13. My Little Suede Shoes (Parker) 7:09
14. Bird introduces the next tune 0:28
15. Now’s the Time (Parker) 6:57
16. Groovin’ High (Parker-Gillespie) 6:02
CD 2
01. Cool Blues (Parker) 6:48
02. Out of Nowhere (Green-Heyman) 5:42
03. My Funny Valentine (Rodgers-Hart) 6:32
04. Ornithology (Parker-Harris) 4:56
05. Cool Blues (Parker) 6:09
06. My Little Suede Shoes (Parker) incomplete 6:01
07. Bird talks to SST 1:01
08. Ornithology (Parker-Harris) 7:35
09. SST introduces the Hi-Hat All Stars and talks to Bird 1:23
10. Out of Nowhere (Green-Heyman) 4:22
11. Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid (Young) and closing announcements by SST 2:34
12. Now’s the Time (Parker) 9:13
13. SST and Bird introduce the Hi-Hat All Stars 0:50
14. Out of Nowhere (Green-Heyman) 5:48
15. My Little Suede Shoes (Parker) 5:01
16. Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid (Young) and closing announcements by SST 1:07
Personnel on CD 1
Tracks #1-9: Charlie Parker, alto sax; Herb Pomeroy, trumpet; Dean Earle, piano; Bernie Griggs, bass; Bill Graham, drums.
Recorded Sunday, June 14, 1953
Tracks #10-16: Charlie Parker, alto sax; Herbie Williams, trumpet; Rollins Griffith, piano; Jimmy Woode, bass; Marquis Foster, drums.
Probably recorded on January 1954
Personnel on CD 2
Tracks #1-4: Charlie Parker, alto sax; Herb Pomeroy, trumpet; with probably Dean Earle, piano; Bernie Griggs, bass; Bill Graham, drums.
Probably recorded on June 1953
Tracks #5-11: Charlie Parker, alto sax; Herbie Williams, trumpet; Rollins Griffith, piano; Jimmy Woode, bass; Marquis Foster, drums.
Exact date unknown, but recorded between January 18-24, 1954
Tracks #12-16: Charlie Parker, alto sax; Herbie Williams, trumpet; Jay Migliori, tenor sax; Rollins Griffith, piano; Jimmy Woode, bass; George Solano, drums.
Recorded Saturday, January 23, 1954
