- Overture – Con Alma, Ow!, Bebop, I Waited
for You, Blue & Boogie
- San Sebastian
- Lover Man
- BeBop
- Diddy Wah Diddy
- Tour De Force
- A Night in Tunisia
- Ow!
Slide Hampton – Trombone
Jon Faddis – Trumpet & Flugel
Roy Hargrove – Trumpet & Flugel
Antonio Hart – Soprano & Alto
Jimmy Heath – Tenor
George Mraz – Bass
Danilo Perez – Piano
Douglas Purviance – Bass Trombone & Tuba
Claudio Roditi – Trumpet
David Sanchez – Tenor, Soprano & Flute
Steve Turre – Trombone
This was recorded during
the Jazz Master’s first performances at the
Village Vanguard in NYC in 1993. The critics
universally acclaimed the performances and
listening to the record it is easy to understand
why. This band entirely catches the spirit
of what Dizzy Gillespie was all about, but
without any attempt to copy. Dizzy, who was
one of the great innovators of the jazz world,
would have appreciated this approach, he never
rested on his laurels, he continued to push
forward the musical frontiers the whole time.
Slide Hampton worked in Gillespie’s
United Nations Orchestra and was therefore
able to see the genius of Diz at first hand.
Many of the arrangements in Dizzy’s pad at
that time were written by Slide Hampton and
it was he who wrote the arrangements for the
Jazz Masters. As well as being an outstanding
composer, arranger and musical educator, Slide
has take over the legacy of J. J. Johnson
as the No. 1 bebop trombone player.
A glance at the personnel
listed above tells you just what to expect
from a band so packed with talent. Jimmy Heath
and Jon Faddis alone would be well worth the
entrance fee at any club. Jon Faddis, a superb
trumpet player is himself a terrific MD. I
saw him at the Carnegie Hall with the Carnegie
Hall Big Band. Not only was the band amazing,
but his trumpet playing stole the show in
a band of all stars players. It tells you
something of the man that all through the
interval he sat on the end of the stage chatting
to members of the audience.
When the musician’s in a
band enjoy each others playing, something
special happens and that’s what happens here.
What it must have been like at the Village
Vanguard during the time they were in residence!
You can feel the excitement of band and audience
alike in this recording,
There are no poor tracks
here, everyone is a joy, the three trumpet
feature on Dizzy’s Tour De Force is something
special and a new take on A Night in Tunisia
is well arranged and terrifically well played.
If there are any more recordings
available from these sessions, the please
TELARC JAZZ lets have Dedicated to
Diz No2.
This is a must buy record,
don’t miss it!
Don Mather
CD Reviews
TELARC JAZZ CD-83323 
