Warmin' Up A Riff, recorded on November 26, 1945, is a blistering contrafact on the chord changes of Cherokee, performed by Charlie Parker's Reboppers at approximately 230 BPM in B-flat. The 64-bar AABA form of Cherokee was a vehicle Parker famously used to push the boundaries of harmonic improvisation, and this performance captures him in full flight over two choruses of alto saxophone. With its rapid harmonic rhythm and demanding key changes through the bridge, Cherokee's chord progression served as a proving ground for bebop musicians, and Parker's ability to navigate it at this tempo was virtually unmatched. This track is part of the legendary November 1945 Savoy session that also produced Now's The Time, Billie's Bounce, Thrivin' From A Riff, and Ko-Ko. While Ko-Ko became the most celebrated Cherokee-based performance from this date, Warmin' Up A Riff stands as an important companion piece documenting Parker's extraordinary command of this demanding material.
