Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band: Dizzy's Business
Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band: Dizzy's Business
Let's admit it: If it weren't for the twisted economics of jazz today, this would be called the Slide Hampton Big Band, because it's Hampton's sensibilities that shape the sound of this orchestra, not Dizzy's. That's most evident in the tempos; where Dizzy opted for up and raging, Hampton opts for slower and showier, with emphasis on suave finish and sophistication trumping visceral excitement. Hampton is like the head coach on an NFL team, so even though others arrange tunes, he controls the overall sound.
Take "Con Alma, a Gillespie classic here arranged by drummer Dennis Mackrel in a mellow mood far distant from Dizzy's hot recordings, although just as convincing. Roy Hargrove guests on trumpet on two tracks, channeling Harry "Sweets Edison on one, while the trombonists shine on numerous solo turnsafter all, Slide is a trombonist.
Roberta Gambarini sings on four tracks, introducing another elementfemale vocalsrarely heard in Dizzy's bands. She's delightful, whether scatting alone or trading licks with James Moody, and she's formidable on "Stardust, no easy song to reclaim from clichés. But her triumph is the bossa "Manha de Carnival, in an exquisite Slide Hampton arrangement.
Track Listing
Dizzy's Business; Con Alma; Blue 'N' Boogie; I Mean You; Without YouNo Me (To Dizzy); Hot House; Stardust; Tour de Force; Moody's Groove; Morning of the Carnival; Off Minor.
Personnel
Dizzy Gillespie
trumpetJames Moody: tenor saxophone, flute, vocals; Jimmy Heath: tenor saxophone; Frank Wess and Antonio Hart: alto saxophone, flute; Gary Smulyan: baritone saxophone; Frank Greene: lead trumpet; Roy Hargrove, Greg Gisbert and Randy Brecker: trumpet; Claudio Roditi: trumpet and percussion; Jason Jackson: lead trombone; Steve Davis: trombone; Jay Ashby: trombone, percussion; Douglas Purviance: bass trombone; Mulgrew Miller: piano; Marty Ashby: guitars; John Lee: bass/executive director; Dennis Mackrel: drums; Roberta Gambarini: vocals.
Album information
Title: Dizzy's Business | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: MCG Jazz
< Previous
Latest Outlook
Next >
Displaced