It was hardly a first for the bandleader: Mingus had tried to do the same a few years before to saxophonist JackieMcLean, who held him off with a knife.
Mr. JACKIEMCLEAN (Saxophonist): We'd go downtown at 8:30, see Charlie Parker walking to the clubs, stand outside the club until about quarter of ten and make a mad dash for the subway so we could get home.