Dewey Square, recorded October 28, 1947, is a Parker original based on the chord changes of Oh, Lady Be Good! performed by the Charlie Parker Quintet at approximately 176-182 BPM in E-flat with a 32-bar AABA form. Parker's one-chorus alto saxophone solo is followed by a full chorus from Miles Davis on trumpet, a half-chorus from Duke Jordan on piano, and a quarter-chorus drum solo from Max Roach. Named after a location near the Dial Records office in New York, the composition features one of Parker's more distinctive melodies, with a sinuous, chromatic character that distinguishes it from his rhythm changes heads. Parker's solo is particularly well-constructed, with a logical flow of ideas that builds across the full chorus. Davis's solo demonstrates his increasingly confident voice, and Jordan and Roach each make effective use of their shorter solo spots. Dewey Square has become a moderately well-known piece in the jazz repertoire and represents the classic Parker quintet at its most polished.
