Historische opnamen van diverse jazzmusici
Allmusic over "World Statesman" (1956): "This set introduced the new Dizzy Gillespie big band which was making headlines for the acclaim it received (and for the excitement it caused) during its State Department-sponsored world tours. Sidemen at the time included trumpeter Joe Gordon (who got to take Gillespie's famous break on this version of "Night in Tunisia"), trombonist/arranger Melba Liston, altoist Phil Woods, pianist Walter Davis and tenors Ernie Wilkins and Billy Mitchell. This brilliant (and historic) orchestra really shows a great deal of spirit, power and creativity." "At Newport" (1957) is zelfs de 'album pick' uit Gillespies oeuvre op Allmusic: "This CD features Dizzy Gillespie's second great big band at the peak of its powers. On the rapid "Dizzy's Blues" and a truly blazing "Cool Breeze," the orchestra really roars. This brilliant CD captures one of the high points of Dizzy Gillespie's remarkable career and is highly recommended." De andere twee album stammen uit de vroege jaren '50.
"Dizzy Gillespie was at the peak of his powers throughout the '50s, still the pacesetter among trumpeters. This album matches Dizzy with Stan Getz, the Oscar Peterson Trio and drummer Max Roach. Getz, although identified with the "cool" school, thrived on competition and is both relaxed and combative on the up-tempo explorations of "It Don't Mean a Thing" and "Impromptu."" (Scott Yanow, Allmusic)
"It's easy and perhaps unfair to take any later jazz album by a trendy, "hot" trumpeter and compare it to a classic like Have Trumpet, Will Excite!. Critics and fans have been afforded the luxury of time to weed out half-efforts. Still, even without former knowledge of who Dizzy Gillespie is, Have Trumpet, Will Excite! separates itself from the crowd pretty quickly. Gillespie and the band, seem to say, "We can play old swing tunes, but wouldn't it be cool if we turned them inside out?" This approach, along with sharp solos, gives the material an exciting edge. Gillespie's solo on "St. Louis Blues" just soars, while Les Spann, who plays both flute and guitar on the album, follows him with a bristly guitar solo. Mance offers distinctive piano work that matches Gillespie's enthusiasm on tunes like "Woody 'N' You,". Have Trumpet, Will Excite! more than measures up to its promise and stands as a cornerstone of Gillespie's '50s work."(Allmusic).
"John Birks Gillespie (1917-1993) was een imposante trompettist en muziekvernieuwer, maar haalde op en naast het podium ook volop fratsen uit. Om die reden kenden meer mensen hem onder de bijnaam Dizzy Gillespie dan als John Birks. Dat zijn boeker begin jaren zestig van de vorige eeuw buttons begon te verspreiden met de tekst Dizzy for president, paste bij dat grapjassen-imago. Maar waar getwijfeld mag worden aan de presidentiële ambities die rapper Kanye West deze week opnieuw uitsprak, meende Dizzy Gillespie het wel serieus toen hij in 1963 zijn kandidatuur voor het presidentsschap aankondigde. Met zijn kandidatuur wilde Gillespie de impasse in de burgerrechtenstrijd doorbreken. Zanger Jon Hendricks schreef een tekst op de wijze van Gillespies klassieker Salt peanuts. Die prees de kandidaat aan als alternatief voor alle anderen: Your politics ought to be a groovier thing / Vote Dizzy! Vote Dizzy! / Set a good president whos willing to swing / Vote Dizzy! Vote Dizzy!" (Trouw)
Beboppionier Dizzy Gillespie richtte al in 1937 zijn eerste ensemble op en in het begin van de jaren '40 speelde hij samen met jazz grootheden als Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk en Kenny Clarke. Hij leidde zijn eigen bigband van 1946 tot 1950. Gillespie verrichte in die periode pionierswerk in de jazz, waarin zijn muziek bestond uit een fusie tussen jazz, Latijns-Amerikaanse en Afro-Amerikaanse muziek. Gillespie schreef vele jazzklassiekers zoals "Manteca", "A Night in Tunisia" en "Con Alma". De DVD en CD in deze set hebben dezelfde track listing en bevatten fragmenten van drie tijdens North Sea Jazz opgenomen concerten: Dizzy Gillespie Sextet in 1981; Dizzy Gillespie & AVROs Big Band The Skymasters o.l.v. Tony Nolte, in 1982 en de Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, in 1988, alledrie in de PWA Zaal. In Gillespies sextet speelden o.a. Ed Cherry (gitaar), Milt Jackson (vibrafoon) en James Moody (sax). Cherry vinden we ook terug in zijn bigband, naast o.a. John Marshall (trompet) en Sam Rivers (sax). (bron: Bob City)
"As the greatest musical heir on alto sax to Charlie Parker, it seemed only natural for Phil Woods to record a date with Dizzy Gillespie. This European studio session features Dizzy as a special guest sitting in with one of Woods' greatest quintets, with pianist Hal Galper and the brilliant trumpeter and flugelhornist Tom Harrell. In fact Dizzy's chops had already slipped somewhat during the decade and Harrell clearly outplays him even though he clearly isn't trying to embarrass the legendary trumpeter. Gillespie is at his best with a muted solo on "'Round Midnight," while Woods, Harrell and Galper are all outstanding throughout the entire CD." (Ken Dryden, Allmusic)
"Dizzy Gillespie brings together tenor saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins for four extended cuts, and in the process comes up with one of the most exciting "jam session" records in the jazz catalog. While the rhythm section of pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Tommy Bryant, and drummer Charlie Persip provides solid rhythmic support, Stitt and Rollins get down to business trading fours and reeling off solo fireworks. On "The Eternal Triangle," in particular, Stitt and Rollins impress in their roles as tenor titans, with Stitt going in for sheer muscle as that most stout of bebop cutters and Rollins opting for some pacing as a more thematic player. Gillespie adds his own split commentary on the proceedings with a casual solo on "After Hours" and a competitively blistering statement on "I Know That You Know"." (Stephen Cook, Allmusic)
Deze excellente 3CD-set bevat 64 fraaie opnamen van de trompettist met diverse groepen: van kleine bezettingen tot big bands, alsmede werk met strijkers en met een bluesgroep. Onder de zeldzaamheden bevindt zich een door Gillespie geschreven big band-score "Interlude (A Night in Tunisia)" uitgevoerd met the Boyd Raeburn Orchestra. "Groovin' High" is hier te vinden in een versie van the Dizzy Gillespie Sextet, met o.a. Charlie Parker. Interessant voor zowel Gillespie-beginners als -die-hards. (naar Allmusic)
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