DIZZY GILLESPIE

[kh1958]

It's simple--since he's one of the greatest, you need to get just about all his recordings until his chops declined below a certain point (sometime after Bahaiana and Afro-Cuban Moods).

[king ubu]

Ordered Savoy's "Odyssey: 1945-52" box last night, along with "Sonny Side Up." Looking forward to both.

Have a smattering of Gillespie -- including the Uptown big band, and June 1945 Town Hall releases, and the RCA 2-disc set -- but, as the thread kind of suggests, getting a firm idea of where to go next with his recordings can be a little murky.

Has someone who has listened to the Mosaic small groups box comment on it?

You'll love "Odyssey" (some don't like the sound... but if you can live with the RCA set I guess "Odyssey" is pretty good-sounding by comparison!)

Can't comment too much on the Mosaic, as I confess never having made my way through it all yet. I have much of it on separate CDs before, and it was mostly very good to excellent music!

You might also want to check out the 1956/57 big band (there's a 3-albums-on-2-CDs package as well as Newport '57, also a boot that's too long to be on one disc, I have to discs with partial overlap and still don't have it all...).

Dizzy on Verve is a mess to get an overview, though - he was all over the place - doing all star sessions (with Getz, with the Sonnys, with Stuff Smith, with Roy Eldridge), sideman gigs (with Benny Carter), jams (Norman Granz Jam Sessions, Sittin' In, JATP), and even a third-streamish project ("Perception", arranged by J.J. Johnson - mighty fine one! Grab the VEE if you ever get a chance!) as well as his own big band and small group sessions! Quite a flurry of activity after the rather drab years in the early fifties (some of that is on the third disc of "Odyssey" - nothing really bad, but still music much less exciting than what you'd expect from someone of Dizzy's calibre). It was like Granz turned the switch to "on" again, and Dizzy exploded!

Musically, though, I wouldn't expect anything new or too progressive. It's just very good bop, and if you're in the mood for that, it will be mighty fine!

Oh, and yes! Get the Gillespiana/Carnegie Hall twofer, too!

[MartyJazz]

It takes too much technique to copy Dizzy, Monk or Bird.

People play Bird's licks but nobody approaches his rhythmic freedom while playing Bird's style.

IMO, Dizzy has many good records both musically and sound wise. Good enough to enjoy the music.

There ya go!

Here's a smattering of favorites:

The first cover above, that of the Reunion Big Band recorded at the 1968 Berlin JF, is a great, great album. AFAIK however, the cover cited is that of the LP only. When I finally got this session on CD, the cover shows an older Dizzy, but of course the music is still great, particularly a hellacious version of "Things to Come". Here's the CD issue available currently in the U.S.:

Edited May 5, 2010 by MartyJazz

[RiRiIII]

Ordered Savoy's "Odyssey: 1945-52" box last night, along with "Sonny Side Up." Looking forward to both.

Any hint as to where I could order the Odyssey box set from? Many thanks!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Dizzy on Verve is a mess to get an overview, though - he was all over the place - doing all star sessions (with Getz, with the Sonnys, with Stuff Smith, with Roy Eldridge), sideman gigs (with Benny Carter), jams (Norman Granz Jam Sessions, Sittin' In, JATP), and even a third-streamish project ("Perception", arranged by J.J. Johnson - mighty fine one! Grab the VEE if you ever get a chance!) as well as his own big band and small group sessions! Quite a flurry of activity after the rather drab years in the early fifties (some of that is on the third disc of "Odyssey" - nothing really bad, but still music much less exciting than what you'd expect from someone of Dizzy's calibre). It was like Granz turned the switch to "on" again, and Dizzy exploded!

Musically, though, I wouldn't expect anything new or too progressive. It's just very good bop, and if you're in the mood for that, it will be mighty fine!

This one's a bit different.

Katie Bell Nubin was Sister Rosetta Tharpe's mother. A good, not great, but very interesting, album, with the Dizzy Gillespie band of 1960 - inc L Wright, Mance, Spann, Art Davis & L Humphries.

MG

[marcello]

Another favorite to get of later Gillespie. Especially for "Olinga".

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Another favorite to get of later Gillespie. Especially for "Olinga".

That looks like the Perception label, though I can't quite see. Is that right?

MG

[Victor Christensen]

I love Dizzy, have been so lucky to have seen him live 5 times. I love his bigband from the forties, it's pure joy (audio is not so good, but so what).

I also care a lot about his 5o fifties big band, and just for fun "Dizzy For President". I have about 40 recordings with Dizzy.

Vic

[papsrus]

Ordered Savoy's "Odyssey: 1945-52" box last night, along with "Sonny Side Up." Looking forward to both.

Any hint as to where I could order the Odyssey box set from? Many thanks!

Ordered mine through amazon here.

[JSngry]

Another favorite to get of later Gillespie. Especially for "Olinga".

That looks like the Perception label, though I can't quite see. Is that right?

MG

Indeed it is, and indeed it is a nice album.

[kh1958]

As usual, a thread like this costs me money, as I didn't have the Dizzy in Berlin MPS, which has now been ordered.

[paul secor]

Anyone have thoughts on The Bop Session (Gazell)? Lineup (Dizzy, Stitt, Max, Percy Heath, Hank Jones) looks good. ???

[king ubu]

That "Bop Session" was reissued in the short-lived (one batch, 10 discs) Sonet series on Universal some years ago.

I have it, but have replaced it and must have searched for it about 10 hours by now... never heard it yet

[JSngry]

It's good, but not great. I'd say keep it if you have it, don't get too upset if you don't.

[paul secor]

It's good, but not great. I'd say keep it if you have it, don't get too upset if you don't.

Thanks, Jim. Wondered if it was one of those sesssions that reads better than it sounds.

[JSngry]

Well, just my opinion, but if you can find it for a "good price", pick it up. It's nice enough for sure, but everybody involved had already done (and would do) much more "vital" work elsewhere. Still a good listen, jsut not anything to break out the Collector's OCD about, if you know what I mean.

[paul secor]

Yeah - I hear what you're saying. If I get a chance to hear it sometime, I'll form my own opinion. Until then, there's plenty of other stuff out there that's probably much more promising. Thanks again for your input/opinion.

[Morganized]

As usual, a thread like this costs me money, as I didn't have the Dizzy in Berlin MPS, which has now been ordered.

Yes...but I picked up a Carter/Gillespie( In the Mood for Swing ) only to realize it was the wrong one. All the hoopla was about Carter/Gillespie INC....

It is a nice date anyway. Think I will keep it and look for the other one!! :)

[jdw]

I'm bumping this thread because it seems to be the best one for discussion of Dizzy's discography.

So - does anyone know if all the tracks from Gillespie's sessions for Capitol have ever been legitimately reissued on CD or LP?

These are the session dates listed at jazzdisco.org (which of course means the info might be badly out of date):

December 21, 1947 (The Metronome All Stars)

- 2 tracks

November 21, 1949

- 4 tracks

January 9, 1950

- 4 tracks

Several of the tracks were reissued on the '70s LP "Tadd Dameron, Babs Gonzales, Dizzy Gillespie - Capitol Jazz Classics Vol. 13 - Strictly BeBop" (Capitol M 11059, (Du) 5C 052.80852),

but the rest seem to be hidden away on anthologies and Japanese LPs released decades ago.

I've browsed through discogs.com, allmusic.com, etctera, and can't find info on legit EMI CD reissues (I want to avoid the European bootleg labels Fresh Sounds, Proper, et al). Have EMI Japan ever compiled a CD, for instance?

Thanks,

John

Vancouver BC

[JSngry]

You can find the two 12/21/47 Metronome All Star cuts on Capitol Jazz Classics Vol. 6 - All-Star Sessions. I have it as Capitol M-11031. No idea what the original Dutch cataolg number would be,

What are the titles left off of Strictly Bebop, and are they any less dire than the ones that were included? Just wondering it they're on the upper or lower "You Stole My Wife, You Horse Thief" side of the bar...

[Big Beat Steve]

You can find the two 12/21/47 Metronome All Star cuts on Capitol Jazz Classics Vol. 6 - All-Star Sessions. I have it as Capitol M-11031. No idea what the original Dutch cataolg number would be,

Have the LP right in front of me: It's Capitol 5C 052.80 806

What are the titles left off of Strictly Bebop, and are they any less dire than the ones that were included? Just wondering it they're on the upper or lower "You Stole My Wife, You Horse Thief" side of the bar...

1949:

I Can't Remember (vcl Tiny Irwin)

1950:

Carambola

Honeysuckle Rose (vcl Joe Carroll)

"Carambola" was/is on the Capitol "The History of Jazz" comp "Vol. 4 - Enter The Cool" (Cap T796) that was around in several iterations/pressings from the original issue of the late 50s at least up to the mid-80s (I bought my copy as a Spanish facsimile reissue in 1983)

[Chuck Nessa]

You can find the two 12/21/47 Metronome All Star cuts on Capitol Jazz Classics Vol. 6 - All-Star Sessions. I have it as Capitol M-11031. No idea what the original Dutch cataolg number would be,

Have the LP right in front of me: It's Capitol 5C 052.80 806

What are the titles left off of Strictly Bebop, and are they any less dire than the ones that were included? Just wondering it they're on the upper or lower "You Stole My Wife, You Horse Thief" side of the bar...

1949:

I Can't Remember (vcl Tiny Irwin)

1950:

Carambola

Honeysuckle Rose (vcl Joe Carroll)

"Carambola" was/is on the Capitol "The History of Jazz" comp "Vol. 4 - Enter The Cool" (Cap T796) that was around in several iterations/pressings from the original issue of the late 50s at least up to the mid-80s (I bought my copy as a Spanish facsimile reissue in 1983)

Correct name for vocalist on I Can't Remember is Tiny Irvin.

[Big Beat Steve]

Yes I noted that too (upon checking my Jepsen again) after having posted the above. So I stand corrected for this typo. But you beat me to accessing this post again to correct (minor matters you know ... comparatively speaking ... . )

[Chuck Nessa]

Delightful woman. Met her in 1982 when my friend Michael Frank took me to Pittsburgh to record this album.

Edited October 29, 2012 by Chuck Nessa

[gmonahan]

The Andorrans put out a cd on Definitive titled "John Coltrane: Complete Recordings with Dizzy Gillespie" that includes Dizzy's Big Band Capitol stuff. You can find an amazon listing here

gregmo