Dark Shadows, recorded February 1, 1947, is a medium-tempo swing performance by the Charlie Parker Quartet in E-flat at approximately 93 BPM, featuring a 32-bar AABA form. The tune, composed by Shifty Henry, provides a relaxed framework for Parker's half-chorus alto saxophone solo and Erroll Garner's quarter-chorus piano spot. This is one of the recordings from Parker's first session after his release from Camarillo State Hospital, and the quartet format with Garner on piano, Red Callender on bass, and Doc West on drums yields a distinctive sound quite different from Parker's East Coast quintet recordings. Garner's idiosyncratic approach to accompaniment, with his characteristic rhythmic lag and full chordal voicings, creates an unusual backdrop for Parker's lines. While not one of the better-known titles from these sessions, Dark Shadows captures Parker in a comfortable, exploratory mode, reacquainting himself with the studio after his extended absence. The relaxed tempo and the interplay between Parker and Garner make this an appealing, if understated, performance.
