Cafe Society (+1 Bonus Track) Limited edition

Charlie Parker's engagement at Café Society took place

during the last year of this famous club's existence. Two

days before his stint began, on June 6, 1950, he had

recorded his last studio album with Dizzy Gillespie, the

celebrated Bird & Diz, which featured Thelonious Monk on

piano. During these months, as Bird himself announced,

he was playing with strings. However, for some reason

the Café Society didn't book him with strings but with his

quintet, featuring Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Al Haig on

piano, Tommy Potter on bass and Roy Haynes on drums.

All of the music recorded by Bird at the club is included

here, including his only known versions of "Bewitched"

and "Gone with the Wind", as well as an amazing version

of "Summertime", which is Parker's only reading of the

tune apart from the studio recording with strings.

Charley Parker, alto sax, with:

1-12:

Kenny Dorhan, trumpet

Al Haig, piano

Tommy Potter, bass

Roy Hayes, drums

Tony Scott, clarinet (added on 12, only)

13-14:

Kenny Dorhan, trumpet

Tony Scott, clarinet

Brew Moore, tenor sax

Dick Hyman, piano

Mundell Lowe, guitar

Irv Lang, bass

Irv Kluger, drums

All tracks recorded live at Café Society Downtown,

New York, June-July, 1950 (1-12), Mid-March, 1950 (13-14).

*Bonus track(15): Same as 13-14 but omit Charlie Parker.