Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dizzy Gillespie: Salt Peanuts

314

Dizzy Gillespie: Salt Peanuts

By

Sign in to view read count
Dizzy Gillespie: Salt Peanuts
Dizzy Gillespie, the remarkable trumpeter who helped pioneer bebop in the 1940s with his magnetic presence, was 64 when these recordings were captured at The Rising Sun Celebrity Jazz Club in Montreal. While not his best work, these intimate July 1981 sessions manage to capture the lovable artist at work, passing the mainstream jazz torch on to like-minded compatriots. He continued to do so for another eleven years, setting the example and working actively with the jazz mainstream until his death.

Most of the selections captured here reflect Gillespie's desire to share the wealth of his veteran knowledge. He's always been exciting when he interprets "Salt Peanuts" and "Swing Low Sweet Cadillac," because of the vocal asides that blossom and grow. Guitarist Ed Cherry, wearing two hats because the band has no pianist, makes an equitable partner for the veteran trumpeter. He solos with crisp clarity and harmonizes with depth. This live date provided the time and opportunity for Cherry to stretch out considerably. His searing lines steal the show.

Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr, already a veteran of swing and bebop at the time of these sessions, complements Gillespie's powerful musical persona with fluid flute melodies and swinging tenor saxophone outtakes. While an unidentified alto saxophonist with a biting bebop stance remains too far away from the microphone through several tracks, it's Abdul Al-Khabyyr who provides the band with spontaneous solos that add immeasurable strength to the session. His flute thrills on "Land of Milk and Honey" and his saxophone wails on "Swing Low Sweet Cadillac." Not surprisingly, he gracefully interprets "The Girl from Ipanema" with a special tenderness.

Always a personable crowd-pleaser, Gillespie connects with his audience. As he explains his "Land of Milk and Honey" and as he interprets it vocally and with open trumpet, the veteran entertainer makes you feel right at home.

Track Listing

On Green Dolphin Street; Blues Theme; Salt Peanuts; Swing Low Sweet Cadillac; Night in Tunisia; Land of Milk and Honey; The Girl from Ipanema; Tin Tin Deo.

Personnel

Dizzy Gillespie- trumpet; Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr- flute, tenor saxophone; Ed Cherry- guitar; Michael Howell- bass; Tommy Campbell- drums.

Album information

Title: Salt Peanuts | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Just A Memory

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.