Like Duke Ellington Mountain, my next batch of records are a small mountain, bigger than a hill or bluff, though, of Dizzy Gillespie records.
In the Beginning – A Prestige two-fer of classics with Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, and some early big band recordings. Covering 1945-50, this is a “can’t miss” sort of collection. Every single take on here is essential. Ray Brown!
The Greatest of Dizzy Gillespie – This RCA record covers some of the amazing 1946-50 larger group and big band recordings. Just about every cat on this record is a legend. Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, John Lewis, Connie Kay (aka MJQ), and has arrangements by Gil Fuller. Especially, and most importantly, this has George Russell’s “Cubana-Be, Cubana-Bop,” which is one of my all time faves. And finally, I hear the source of Coltrane’s first idea on the Miles Davis recording of “Two Bass Hit” – it’s Dizzy’s first idea, expanded. Ok, ok, Chano Pozo’s displaced straight-eighth versus swung-eighth thing does drive me a little crazy, but c’mon, it’s still amazing!
Dizzy Goes to College, Vol. 1 – Imagine seeing the above band live! Here it is! October 18, 1947 is the date, and it seems like the gig was at Cornell University (two weeks earlier, they played Carnegie Hall!). Lucky kids!
Dizzy Goes to College, Vol. 2 – The companion LP to …Goes to College, Vol. 1, this record extends the opportunity to hear what that band sounded like live. Killin’ is the answer. But man, even with burning cats like James Moody, Cecil Payne, John Lewis, Milt Jackson and Al McKibbon, the all-star for this session is a drummer I never heard of…Joe Harris! He was amazing! “Toccata for Trumpet” is a bit much for me, even though I love the Third Stream-ness of it. And, Al “Pancho” Hagood only sings on two tunes from the two LPs (both on this one), but he rules on both.
Havin’ A Good Time in Paris – Two dates from 1952 with a mix of cats. Don Byas sounds as great as ever, and the Great Pierre Michelot sounds…great.
Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz – This two-fer is a reissue of Dizzy’s For Musicians Only and Diz and Getz. Wow, what playing! “Siboney” is a tune I don’t remember from the first time or two I heard this, but wow, what a vibe that tune has. And their blazing version of “Bebop” – with a stellar Sonny Stitt – is a bit scary.
[flash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKQ2ibnqLAQ&noredirect=1]
And, another, wow (like on the records I just listened to by Getz, he is Mr. Diminished on this track):
[flash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARgQBFQv_d0]
And, super wow:
[flash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF95hfrVeZs]
“It Don’t Mean a Thing” is blazing fast, and on the whole, incredible. As a mortal bassist, it’s nice to hear the immortal Ray Brown struggling with the tempo on his solo. Love this record.
Soul Mates – This record is a collection of performances featuring Dizzy and Roy Eldridge. My guess is that they are jam sessions from JATP concerts, judging by the label and the personnel. And as always, Flip Phillips sounds incredible. Ok, so I already said that I love Roy Eldridge in a previous review of his records. Dizzy, of course, is amazing. I love this period of Dizzy’s playing because he’s dealing with the swing era, bebop, and an audience, making his lines and gestures simultaneously clear and outlandish. The only thing I can find to complain about is that I don’t actually like “Limehouse Blues,” the tune itself.
The Sonny Rollins Sonny Stitt Sessions – Some of this two LP set is also known as Sonny Side Up. Wow. This album is nearly impossible to comment on because of how amazing it is. Check out “Eternal Triangle” just to get a sense. That album is only four tracks, so this one – with an extra four – is really a gem. You know “the lick?” This album and Havin’ a Good Time in Paris, and Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz feature the diminished trope, and I mean, like all over those records. “On the Sunny Side of the Street” from this record is an example – Dizzy speaks that particular language. Top of Stitt’s second(?) chorus on “Eternal Triangle” features another diminished trope. And just in case no one knows this, Sonny Rollins rules! Charli Persip on “After Hours!” Sonny Rollins on “I Know that you Know!”
The Modern Jazz Sextet: Dizzy Meets Sonny – Totally swinging, great writing, fantastic playing, an excellent record. Stitt sounds ferocious, and the MJQ all stars John Lewis and Percy Heath are tasty as ever. Charli Persip is, as always, a stand out.
A Musical Safari – A fantastic, lively, vigorous live album recorded in Monterey, 1961. Lalo Schifrin is my hero here, although man, Dizzy is on fire on this record. Might be a must listen sort of situation. Speaking of Lalo, I remember digging his record, The Dissection and Reconstruction of Music From the Past as Performed By the Inmates of Lalo Schifrin’s Demented Ensemble as a Tribute to the Memory of the Marquis De Sade, when I was a kid…should look for it again.
The Giant – Another two-fer, this time featuring The Giant and The Source. Man, Dizzy sounds amazing on this! And why wouldn’t he? Kenny Drew, Johnny Griffin, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, and Kenny Clarke (and Humberto Canto on congas)? Absolutely slamming. This version of “Manteca” is essential.
Dizzy Gillespie’s Big 4 – Holy cow, they rush like crazy on this record! I mean, it’s totally burning, don’t get me wrong, but it’s so uncomfortable to listen to while they rush so badly. WOW! I remember buying this the day it was released on CD (I think?) and being blown away but not liking it at the same time. This must be why. Wow.
Enjoy, R.