Search - Dizzy Gillespie :: Giants of Jazz

GIANT MONSTERS AT PLAY

George H. Soule | Edwardsville, Illinois United States | 06/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the mysteries of modern civilization and the jazz music industry is why these discs have been out of print. Lack of focus, we might surmise. Or Gresham's Law applied to jazz trumpet players. Not to pursue: in the jazz world hype happens and genius gets shelved or ignored during the flash of the meteor of the year. The line up is John Birks Gillespie on trumpet, Sonny Stitt on alto saxophone, Kai Winding on trombone, Thelonious Monk playing piano. Art Blakey is the drummer joined by Al McKibbon on bass. 1961, Victoria Theatre, London. Gillespie is in top form, playing to please, if you please. Stitt is blazing. Monk is . . . simply brilliant in ensemble and solo. All of the players have space. They are relaxed and obviously enjoying the night and one another. These are masters at work. Dizzy's treatment of "Tin Tin Deo" on this night was among his best. Blakey is featured as the drummer of "Night in Tunisia." Monk does "Blue Monk" and "'Round Midnight." Stitt blazes with special intensity in "Everything Happens to Me," and Dizzy notices what is happening. I am not sure that this record can be rated, but if you value jazz at all, you need to own it before it goes out of print."