Moose the Mooche is a bebop composition written by Charlie Parker in 1946. It was created soon after Dizzy Gillespie left Parker in Los Angeles. The title is believed to refer to Parker’s heroin dealer in L A, Emry “Moose the Mooche” Byrd. Parker recorded it on March 28, 1946 in Los Angeles for Dial Records as the Charlie Parker Septet, with Miles Davis, Lucky Thompson and Dodo Marmarosa among the players. The tune is in B-flat, has a 32-bar AABA form, and its harmony relies on the I Got Rhythm changes with a fast bebop tempo. It became a bebop standard and has been covered by many artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Hank Jones, Joshua Redman, Phish, Sadao Watanabe and Stevie Wonder. It was originally issued as a Dial 78 rpm single and later compiled on various jazz collections.
