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Dizzy Gillespie: Showtime at The Spotlite
The definite stars are the trumpet playing of Gillespie, a marvel of technique and imagination, and the big band charts of Tadd Dameron, Gillespie and the main arranger, Gil Fuller, who brought the bebop idiom to an orchestral forum. Fuller was just a part of the strong Newark, NJ presence in this band, which also included tenor saxophonist James Moody (the main sax soloist here) and trumpeter Dave Burns. Also present, but not on the commercial recordings the band made for RCA Victor, is pianist Thelonious Monk, whose "'Round Midnight," in the seminal chart by Fuller, intro and coda by Gillespie, showcases Milt Jackson's vibes.
Many of the conventions of Swing Era arranging still held sway in 1946, most notably the idea that the band should interact with and support soloists, as typified by Fuller's concerto-like setting for Ray Brown on "One Bass Hit." "Things to Come," the quicksilver anthem, is heard three times, seemingly faster and more furious each go-around. Disc Two exudes a particularly festive atmospherea Moody solo eliciting hearty laughs; Dizzy even more mercurialwith Sarah Vaughan doing an intermission song and Duke Ellington acknowledged by Diz.
Track Listing
CD1: Shaw 'Nuff/I Waited For You; Our Delight; Groovin' High; The Man i Love; Ray's Idea; Cool Breeze; Oo Bop Sh'Bam; 'Round Midnight; Second Balcony Jump; Day By Day; Convulsions; Woody 'n You; Lazy Mood; One Bass Hit; Things To Come; I Waited For You. CD2: Shaw 'Nuff/I Waited For you; Our Delight; Second Balcony Jump; Things To Come; The Man I Love; Don't Blame Me; Grosvenor Square; One Bass Hit; Things To Come; I Waited For You.
Personnel
Dizzy Gillespie
trumpetDizzy Gillespie: trumpet; Dave Burns: trumpet; Elmon Wright: trumpet; Johnny Lynch: trumpet; Talib Dawud: trumpet; Alton "Slim" Moore: trombone; Leon Comegys: trombone; Gordon Thomas: trombone; Howard Johnson: alto saxophone; John Brown: alto saxophone; James Moody: tenor saxophone; Ray Abrams: tenor saxophone; Sol Moore: baritone saxophone; Thelonious Monk: piano; Milt Jackson: vibes; Ray Brown: bass; Kenny Clarke: drums.
Album information
Title: Showtime at The Spotlite | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Uptown Records