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. 1. 52nd Street Theme (I) 2. Just Friends (I) 3. April In Paris (I) 4. A Night In Tunisia/52nd Street Theme (Ii) 5. 52nd Street Theme (Iii) 6. Just Friends (Ii) 7. April In Paris (Ii) 8. Medley 1: Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered / Summertime 9. Medley 2: I Cover the Waterfront / Gone With the Wind 10. Easy To Love / 52nd Street Theme (Iv) 11. Medley 3: Whats New? / the Talk of the Town 12. Moose the Mooche / 52nd Street Theme (V) 13. Lover, Come Back To Me 14. 52nd Street Theme (Vi) 15. Lullaby In Rhythm*
