Red Cross, recorded September 15, 1944, is a historically significant contrafact based on the chord changes of I Got Rhythm, performed by the Tiny Grimes Quintet in B-flat at approximately 208 BPM. Though credited to Grimes, the composition bears Parker's unmistakable melodic fingerprints and stands as one of the earliest recorded examples of what would become a central practice of bebop: writing new melodies over existing harmonic frameworks. Parker's one-chorus alto saxophone solo is a marvel of economy and invention, deploying the angular lines and chromatic passing tones that would become hallmarks of the style. Clyde Hart contributes a full chorus on piano, while Grimes plays a chorus of electric guitar that contrasts the emerging bop aesthetic with swing-era sensibilities. Red Cross is widely regarded as the standout track from this session and an essential early document of Parker's genius. The tune would later be re-recorded and become a staple of the bebop repertoire, but this original version retains a raw, transitional energy.
