The Troy Street Observer

April 12, 1951: Bird’s Jam Session at Christy’s

Charlie Parker and friends were caught on tape at a jam session at Christy’s on April 12, 1951.

Eddie Curran ran a supper club on Route 9 in Framingham called Christy’s. Big jazz fan that he was, he liked nothing better than to invite the musicians in after closing time for a party and a late-night blowing session. These jam sessions were the stuff of legend, with up-and-coming local guys playing until dawn alongside the leading lights of modern jazz.

There was a house band of sorts, led by alto saxophonist Boots Mussulli; pianist Dick Twardzik, drummer Roy Haynes, trumpeter Howard McGhee, and multi-instrumentalist Dick Wetmore were often on the bandstand. Trumpeters as diverse as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bobby Hackett all took their turns. Oscar Pettiford was there, and Gigi Gryce, and one night the whole Stan Kenton Orchestra showed up.

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