The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band

Dizzy's Business

Manchester Craftsmen's Guild  MCGJ 1023

                  John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, the early co-formulator (with saxist Charlie Parker) of jazz called "be bop," was noted for his small group artistry. His initial venturing into big band jazz as an expression of this new jazz sound he helped to create wasn't an initial success, but throughout his life big band jazz and Gillespie were synonymous. After Gillespie's death in 1993, trombonist and Gillespie alumnus Slide Hampton stepped up to the plate to keep the Gillespie big band tradition alive. The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band was formed in 1998 to perform Gillespie's classic big band repertoire.

Since its inception, this powerful all-star aggregation has released two albums. It's most recent offering, Dizzy's Business (Manchester Craftsmen's Guild), is an explosive project showcasing a number of Gillespie alumni spanning from the early days of bop (saxophonists James Moody, Jimmy Heath, and Hampton) to more recent expressions.

Personnel of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band under the direction of Slide Hampton include James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Frank Wess, Antonio Hart, Gary Smulyan, saxophones; Frank Greene, Greg Gisbert, Randy Brecker, Claudio Roditi, trumpets; Jason Jackson, Steve Davis, Jay Ashby, Douglas Purviance, trombones; Mulgrew Miller, piano; Marty Ashby, guitar; John Lee, bass; Dennis Mackrel, drums; special guest trumpeter Roy Hargrove; and introducing Italian vocalist, Roberta Gambarini.

Each member of this juggernaut outfit is a name to be reckoned with in the jazz arena. Roberta Gambarini and James Moody team up nicely using their voices as instruments to scat sing on the bouncy Gillespie chestnut, Blue 'N Boogie, with Hargrove contributing an energetic solo. Gambarini shines again through her sultry version of Star Dust.

In fact, Hampton has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) on Star Dust at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Others competing for Grammy gold in this category are Jorge Calandrelli, arranger on For Once In My Life (Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder) Track from: Duets: An American Classic (RPM Records/Columbia); Gil Goldstein and Greg Phillinganes, arrangers (Chris Botti & Jill Scott) on Good Morning Heartache Track from: To Love Again — The Duets (Columbia Records); Vince Mendoza, arranger (Elvis Costello With The Metropole Orkest) on My Flame Burns Blue (Blood Count) Track from: My Flame Burns Blue
(Deutsche Grammophon); and Gil Goldstein, arranger (Gil Goldstein) on Suninga Track from: Under Rousseau's Moon (Half Note).

Jimmy Heath contributes a pair of compositions to the mix: his tribute to Diz himself on Without You - No Me (To Dizzy) and paying homage to close friend, James Moody, on his 80th birthday, on Moody's Groove.

"Dizzy Lives" once again through this super turbo-charged CD!

Track selections:  Dizzy's Business, Con Alma, Blue 'N Boogie, I Mean You, Without You - No Me (To Dizzy), Hot House, Star Dust, Tour de Force, Moody's Groove, Morning Of The Carnival, Off Minor.

Recorded live at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, Pittsburgh, PA, Sept. 29 - Oct. 2, 2005.

- Stephen Fratallone/Jazz Connection Magazine

Rating:  *****

*****