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BY ZAN STEWART

Star-Ledger Staff

A unique hybrid trumpet, a poster autographed by scores of musicians, and a Grammy statuette are among the many items up for auction from the estate of John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, the jazz trumpet icon, and his wife, Lorraine.

About 3,000 items owned by the Gillespies, who lived in Englewood from 1965 until their deaths -- Dizzy in 1993, his wife last year -- will be put on sale Sept. 14 by Dawson & Nye Auctioneers in Morris Plains.

"The Gillespies lived a rather modest lifestyle. But I think they knew of their global importance, because they seemed to have kept nearly everything," said Andrew Holter, director of business development for Dawson & Nye.

The items, which have yet to be cataloged, will be assembled into about 1,000 lots for the auction, Holter said.

The memorabilia range from the spectacular to the everyday. Among the former is the hybrid trumpet, called a "pudgy" -- part trumpet, part cornet, part fluegelhorn -- designed by Bob DeNicola of Trenton. Holter said it might fetch $5,000 to $10,000.

The autographed poster, commemorating Dizzy's 75th birthday, is covered with handwritten greetings, among them from noted musicians Jackie McLean, Red Rodney and Steve Turre. Holter estimated it would go for $2,000.

The auction will benefit various individuals named in Lorraine Gillespie's will. Marion "Boo" Frazier of Dumont, who was Dizzy's cousin, said Lorraine had wanted the auction because she and Dizzy "had so much, she said, and the best way to get rid of it is to let the public have it." Frazier will be one of the auction's beneficiaries.

The Grammy statuette, for 1975 best solo jazz performance (in "Oscar Peterson and Dizzy Gillespie"), should bring around $5,000, said Holter.

Also among the items is a sepia-toned publicity photo of the young Gillespie in the 1940s that he inscribed to his wife: "The only breath of fresh air that has ever entered my lungs. Yours, 'Dizzy.'" A bronze bust of the trumpeter by artist Dexter Jones and an admiral's cap worn by Gillespie in photos with Cuban leader Fidel Castro are also up for bid.

Much of what is to be auctioned has historical interest. There's a telegram from Gillespie to Robert F. Kennedy. There's also a handwritten ribald note from a friend and colleague, pianist Mary Lou Williams, and a jovial typewritten diet from trumpeter Louis Armstrong that he based on the laxative Swiss Kriss.

The Rolleiflex camera that Gillespie took on his State Department-sponsored tour of the Middle East in the mid-'50s is to be auctioned. Thousands of personal snapshots are on the block, as are stacks of musical manuscripts, some in Gillespie's hand, a conga drum that he often played in public, a drum set, an upright piano, reel-to-reel tapes (which have yet to be identified), and more than 1,000 LP records, many vintage.

The nonmusical items range from articles of clothing, including several of Lorraine's fur coats, to many pieces of her gemstone jewelry, and glass and kitchenware.

Previews for the auction, which is open to the public, will be Sept. 11-13, at Dawson & Nye, 128 American Road, Morris Plains.

There will some musical performances in conjunction with the auction, including one at the auction house by the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Further information on the auction is available from Dawson & Nye at (973) 984-6900 or www.dawsonandnye.com. The auctioneers say bids will be accepted in advance, and during the sale they may be submitted in person, by phone and through eBay Live.

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