1. No More Blues
2. Long, Long Summer
3. I Waited for You
4. Desafinado
5. Here It Is
6. Pau de Arara
7. For the Gypsies
Dizzy Gillespie - Trumpet, vocals
Lalo Shifrin - Piano
Leo Wright - Flute, alto sax, vocals
Elek Bacsik - Guitar
Chris White - Bass
Rudy Collins - Drums
Pepito Riestrio - Percussion
Recorded at Juan-les-Pins, French Riviera, May 1962
Arrangements by Lalo Shifrin
The music was recorded at the third French Riviera Jazz Festival.
The star of the show was without a doubt Dizzy: he played with his
big band made up of both American and European musicians, as well
as this smaller outfit. He turned up at just about every informal
jam session in the festival and became effectively the leader of all
good times. This concept of Dizzy was the one all jazz fans expected.
He had after all together with Charlie Parker set jazz on a new direction
in the 1940's and he continued throughout his whole life to look for
new directions. Fortunately, as far as I am concerned, he never dabbled
or got into the jazz with no chords and no time, or free form, if
you prefer that terminology.
Dizzy knew that as well as being musically brilliant, jazz had to
be entertaining and, as anyone who ever saw him knows, there was always
a little bit of humour as well as excellent music in all his concerts.
Dizzy ability as a trumpet is not in any doubt: his playing here
is just brilliant and he is backed by an excellent group of musicians
playing the arrangements of Lalo Shifrin, a fine arranger and pianist.
Leo Wright also contributes significantly on both flute and alto.
The rhythm section is neat and tight and provides excellent support.
I have only one complaint: there is only about 38 minutes of it and
I could listen to these guys all night!
Don Mather
CD Reviews
Philips/Verve 60251 7966932
