In January 1946, Ross Russell, the owner of the Tempo Music Shop in Hollywood, founded Dial Records with business partner Marvin Freeman. The label focused its efforts on capturing the emerging bebop style emerging from New York City. One of the first artists they signed was Charlie Parker, who in February of 1946 signed a one year contract with Dial.
This tune was from his first session as bandleader with Dial at Radio Recorders Studio in Hollywood. “Ornithology” is an oblique reference to Parker’s nickname, “Bird”, but Parker generally did not title his compositions and left that duty to Russell. Perhaps this is why take 3 of this tune was also released with the title “Bird Lore” on Dial 1006.
Regardless of title – the tune is a contrafact of “How High The Moon” – using the latter’s chord progression with new melodies and solos overtop.
0:00 Intro
0:39 Alto sax solo (Parker)
1:14 Trumpet solo (Davis)
1:48 Tenor sax solo (Thompson)
2:22 Outro
On April 3, 1946 – within days of recording this session, Parker “signed a handwritten agreement to give half of his Dial royalties to Emry “Moose the Mooche” Byrd, a narcotics dealer on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. Parker and Byrd’s agreement was typed and notarized on May 3, 1946.” Luckily, the agreement only covered a handful of songs – including this one. Dial honored the agreement and sent royalty checks to Mr. Byrd – even when he later found himself in prison at San Quentin.
Recorded in Los Angeles, California on March 28, 1946.
Matrix D1012-4.
Released as Dial 1002.
Credits:
Charlie Parker – alto sax
Miles Davis – trumpet
Lucky Thompson – tenor sax
Dodo Marmarosa – piano
Arvin Garrison – guitar
Vic McMillan – bass
Roy Porter – drums
Source: “The Dial Recordings of Charlie Parker” by Edward Komara, The Bebop Revolution in Words and Music, edited by Dave Oliphant, University of Texas at Austin, 1994