"Cheers" is a bebop composition by trumpeter Howard McGhee, written for a February 26, 1947, Dial Records session in Hollywood led by Charlie Parker. The tune is a contrafact based on the chord changes of George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm," with McGhee crafting a new bebop melody over that familiar harmonic framework. The session brought together a formidable group of musicians: Charlie Parker on alto saxophone, Wardell Gray on tenor saxophone, Dodo Marmarosa on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, Red Callender on bass, and Don Lamond on drums. McGhee composed the piece during his peak years on the Los Angeles bebop scene, where he had become a leading figure through his collaborations with Parker and others following his earlier work with Andy Kirk and Coleman Hawkins. The composition reflects McGhee's transition from swing-era influences, notably Roy Eldridge, toward the intricate phrasing and harmonic sophistication of pure bebop. It was recorded alongside other originals from that date, including Parker's "Relaxin' At Camarillo" and McGhee's own "Stupendous" and "Carvin' The Bird." "Cheers" remains a deep cut in the bebop catalog rather than a widely performed standard, known primarily through its appearance on Charlie Parker compilations and reissues. It stands as a representative example of McGhee's underrecognized contributions as a composer during the formative years of bebop.
