[78-L] fwd: Art van Damme

[Geoffrey Wheeler]

The wonderful Joe Mooney,  who also was a great
singer,  pianist and organist.

I had totally forgotten about Joe Mooney. I love his playing. I have 
his Decca 78s, an LP, some of the Columbia Sunshine Boys 78s and an LP 
of their recordings. his work with Sauter-Finegan... Marvelous stuff! A 
few minutes ago, I got a phone call from a collector friend, who said: 
“I want you to hear to this.” He then started up a disc that featured 
Charlie Parker playing a version of “Now’s the Time.” I knew right away 
from the sound and the tempo that I had never heard it before. I was 
shocked at what came next: an accordion solo! My friend played it 
through for maybe eight bars, then cut it off. He told me this was a 
recording on a 10-inch Duo Disc lacquer from a May 3, 1947 WNEW 
Saturday Night Swing Session broadcast. The flip side has other 
performers. As both of us said in amazement: Who would have imagined 
Parker ever played with an accordionist! At this point, my guess is 
Ernie Felice, but I am hoping to learn more, perhaps an identification. 
My friend purchased the disc from e-bay.