THELONIOUS MONK His rare signature on a letter of agreement with Columbia Records, concerning recorded distribution of his live performance at the 1963 Newport Jazz Festival. Documentary Letter signed: "Thelonious Monk", 1 page, 8½x11. Forest Hills, N.Y., 1963 September 23. On letterhead of Columbia Records. Monk signs his assent to a letter referencing a prior agreement by him with Columbia Records (1962 July 30), and declaring that no additional compensation will be owed him for the recording of his performance at the 1963 Newport Jazz Festival unless the company issues a complete LP album featuring his performance exclusively. Jazz pianist and composer Thelonius Monk (1917-1982) has been called "the high priest of bebop," although his idiosyncratic style defies glib categorization. Several of his compositions, including Round Midnight and Blue Monk are classics of the genre. Although Monk had been performing since the early 1940s and had already written some of his classic songs, it was not until the mid-1950s that his avant-garde style began to attract a wide audience. In 1956 he released Brilliant Corners, considered one of the classic jazz albums of all time.

BILLIE HOLIDAY Striking vintage photograph of the legendary singer. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Junior/stay cool/Billie Holiday". B/w, 8x10. Photo by Robin Canon. Official publicity photo by Associated Booking Corp., New York. Exceptional jazz singer of the depression and war years, Billie Holiday (1915-1959) inscribed this photo (circa 1940s) with the jazz expression, "Stay cool". Holiday was anything but - she was hot! From the time she made her first recordings with Benny Goodman in 1933, Holiday's popularity rose rapidly. There followed her most productive years with Count Basie's band and Artie Shaw's band. Jazz saxophonist Lester Young dubbed her "Lady Day", a nickname that remained lifelong. In spite of a narcotic addiction, her style was inimitable and her fans loyal; following rehabilitation in 1947, Holiday performed her torchy ballads to a "standing room" audience in New York's Carnegie Hall (1948). Known for songs such as "My Man" and "Mean to Me", Holiday told of her turbulent life and career in her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues (1956). Creased. Lightly soiled.

CHARLIE PARKER The day before he began an engagement at Club Harlem (October 8, 1950), Parker signs a receipt for a $35 advance. Parker's signature is one of the rarest of all jazz signatures and highly desirable! Rare Manuscript DS: "Charlie Parker", 1 page, 4½ x 2½ lined sheet. No place, 1950 October 8.In full: "Received Thirty-Five Dollars/$3500 as advance". According to Ken Vail's book Bird's Diary, Parker opened in Club Harlem on Monday, Oct. 9 for a nine-day engagement. This advance is probably for that Club Harlem appearance.Parker (1920-1955) was one of the most innovative improvisers in jazz history. An alto saxophonist and composer known as "Bird", he was a leader in developing the bebop style and, arguably, was the greatest saxophonist of all time. In 1951, due to his drug addiction, his cabaret license was revoked in New York, and he became increasingly unreliable. In 1954, he twice attempted suicide before spending time in Bellevue. His health, shaken by a very full, if brief, life of excesses, gradually declined. He died in March 1955 at the age of 34.