For the first jazz release on his self-run Aleph label, Schifrin flew to Cologne, Germany to record this solid remake of Gillespiana, his 1960 five-movement concerto for Dizzy Gillespie with which Schifrin had been touring earlier in 1996. Designed to illustrate the sources that inspired Gillespie's music, the work remains one of the chameleonic Schifrin's best in a big-band idiom, particularly the dynamic Afro-Cuban-flavored blues "Toccata" that closes the concerto.
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.
Lalo Schifrin may ultimately be most famous for his "Mission Impossible" theme, but his jazz credentials are more than solid. A distinctive composer, arranger, and pianist, the Argentine-born Schifrin had a famous stint as pianist for Dizzy Gillespie's small group during the early 1960s, and composed a number of large-scale projects for the master trumpeter. Schifrin has a deep understanding of both Latin and jazz idioms, abundant evidence of which can be found on the sprawling and infectious Latin Jazz Suite. Schifrin's six-movement composition echoes his momentous work for Gillespie, and the significant contributions of virtuoso trumpeter and Gillespie protégé Jon Faddis only highlight the influence.
An entry within Metro Doubles series, One, Two, Three & BJ4: The Legendary Albums is a two-CD set containing Bob James' first four albums, presented in chronological order. The set is a good way to pick up these four James' discs – not only is it a convenient, concise way to get the records, but they're presented well with good liner notes, including track-by-track commentary by Chris Ingham.
Dizzy Gillespie's final recording, taken from a month he spent featured at the Blue Note in New York, matches the aging giant with such fellow trumpeters as Jon Faddis, Wynton Marsalis, Claudio Roditi, Wallace Roney, Red Rodney, Charlie Sepulveda and the ancient – but still brilliant – Doc Cheatham (who cuts both Diz and Faddis on "Mood Indigo"). Although Gillespie was no longer up to the competition, the love that these fellow trumpeters had for him (and some fine solos) makes this historic CD worth getting.
This 2-CD set takes the 1974 album Mingus At Carnegie Hall (Atlantic) and adds seventy minutes of previously unissued material recorded at the same concert.
Mingus led many great bands during his career, but those from the the late 1950s and early 1960s have tended to be perceived as representing his belle epoque, overshadowing some equally outstanding later aggregations. One of these is Mingus' mid 1970s quintet with trumpeter Jack Walrath, tenor saxophonist George Adams, pianist Don Pullen and drummer Dannie Richmond, who are featured on the 1975 portion of the Bremen set. The previous year, Mingus led a sextet including Adams, Pullen and Richmond, in which Jon Faddis was the trumpeter and Hamiet Bluiett played baritone saxophone…
The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott's is an unreleased live recording of jazz icon Charles Mingus from Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London captured in August 1972. It features alto saxophonist Charles McPherson, tenor saxophonist Bobby Jones, trumpeter Jon Faddis, pianist John Foster, and drummer Roy Brooks.