Dizzy Gillespie’s canon of music was made to be interpreted by Afro-Cuban artist. Bassist and leader Carlos Henriquez puts together a caliente team of Michael Rodriguez/tp, Terrel Stafford/tp, Melissa Aldana/ts, Marshall Gilkes/tb, Manuel Valera/p, Anthony Almonte/cong-voc and Obed Calvaire/dr through a percolating read of vintage Diz.
The team gives a salsa read to “A Night in Tunisia” while cleverly using muted brass as they simmer like fried rice on a bopping “Groovin’ High.” The frantic “Bebop” is as tight as a Kim Kardashian’s black skirt, with the team sweaty along with the percussion discussion on “Guarachi Guaro.” Aldama, Gilkes and the two trumpets saunter through the slithering and the rich harmonics create a thick mole’ on the sensuous “Kush.” A Festive “Tin Tin Teo” and modern sounding “Trinidad, Goodbye” crack like a bull whip. The walls were shaking at the club this night!