After starting two genres of music, namely bebop and Afro-Cuban, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie looked for worlds to conquer in the early 1960s,with various results. In 1962, he puts together a large ensemble, focusing on compositions by future soundtrack master Lalo Schifrin for a mix of jazz and classical pieces like “The Empire” and “The Legend of Atlantis”. The same year he takes a smaller version of the band for a concert at the French Riveria, with Schifrin on piano for a sensuous “No More Blues” and “Desafinado” along with the folk tune “Pau de Arara”. Gillespie continues his fascination with Brazilian music with Schifrin and Leo Wright/as-fl along with guitarists Bola Sete and Elec Bacsik along with swinging tenor saxist Charlie Ventura for a rich “Manha De Carnaval” and “One Note Samba”. IN 1963, Gillespie had another renaissance, with a band of James Moody/ts-fl-as, Kenny Barron/p, Chris White/b and RudyCollins/dr, and all in excellent form for remakes of “Bebop” and “Dizzy Atmosphere” as well as new material like “Cup Bearers”. With the same band, Dizzy explores movie themes like “Never On Sunday” and “Moon River” and he actually makes it work!
Speaking of soundtracks, Gillespie’s work on Cool World with Moody, Barron, Chris White/b, Rudy Colins/dr and guest Mal Waldron is nothing short of sensational, with Barron masterful on ditties like “Duke’s Awakening” and “Coney Island”. Where’s this one been hiding? Last is a Caribbean outing with Dizzy’s regular band and the addition of Kansas Fields/perc and Chris White/g to handle the calypso’d originals by Joe Willoughby. A united nations of bop!