gillespie's first recording of "A Night In Tunisia

[mgraham333]

Does anyone know when Gillespie first recorded "A Night In Tunisia". I think it was written around 1942.

Because first is not always best, what are some of the versions that others like, recorded by Gillespie or others?

[vibes]

There's an excellent version that I've always been partial to on "An Electrifying Evening with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet."

[Guest Mnytime]

While we are asking about this song. Is the Art Blakey version of where and how this song was written true? Seems more like a story than fact. Along the lines of their car or bus breaking down and Dizzy writing the song on the side of the road on a trash can.

Edited June 9, 2003 by Mnytime

[Chuck Nessa]

According to Bruyninckx, the first recording by Diz was a broadcast from LA in December 1945. In the next year, Uptown will issue a concert performance of Tunisia from May, 1945 with Diz and Bird.

Edited June 9, 2003 by Chuck Nessa

[P.D.]

The tune was originally called INTERLUDE

Boyd Raeburn recorded it a couple of times.. maybe a Gillespie arangement..around 43 - 44.

Sarah vaughan recorded it, with Diz in the band Jan 17 1945.. available on all kinds of cheap Sarah comps.

The first Diz led band that recorded it seems to be an Onyx Club recording from Jan 1944.. Diz with Budd Johnson / George Wallington / Oscar Pettiford / Max Roach... a broadcast recording

Raeburn recorded it

April 44 withDiz as the arranger

Jan 45 with Diz on trumpet.. twice, once as Night.. once as Interlude

Diz's first Studio recording,as leader and issued under his own name wasthe Feb 22 1946 session for RCA.. the septet recordings.. of which two takes exist

Thank you Masters of Jazz...Media 7.. why the hell did you quit?????

[Parkertown]

While we are asking about this song. Is the Art Blakey version of where and how this song was written true? Seems more like a story than fact. Along the lines of their car or bus breaking down and Dizzy writing the song on the side of the road on a trash can.

I think Buhaina was just funnin'.

[Brad]

Because first is not always best, what are some of the versions that others like, recorded by Gillespie or others?

I think the best, and I'd call it the gold standard, is the one Bird did for Dial, which also includes the "famous alto break." It's really fabulous.

Another good one is from Art Blakey's Night at Birdland, alluded to earlier.