Customer Reviews

Dizzy on the French Riviera (Dig)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Three years ago I wrote an Amazon review of this recording, praising the music featured on it and bemoaning that the CD had been out of print for more than 15 years. Now that the CD has become available as part of Verve's "Originals" series, I am thrilled to be able to revise the review to provide more consumer information:

"Dizzy on the French Riviera" combines music from two of Gillespie's 1962 small-group sessions, a June session recorded in France (Juan-Les-Pins) that reportedly produced tracks 1, 5 & 7 and a May session actually recorded in NYC that produced the remainder. The recordings are unified, though, by the presence of two unique soloists sharing the limelight with Dizzy -- Texan Leo Wright on woodwinds and South American composer Lalo Schifrin on piano, both of whom would be replaced in Gillespie's entourage within the year -- as well as by a decidedly exotic flavor combining bossa nova composition, multiple percussionists, and occasional gypsy-jazz guitar with Gillespie's growing tendency toward Afro-Cuban flavors in his soloing. Schifrin, best known as the composer of catchy TV themes such as "Mission Impossible" and the bossa nova groove of "I Dream of Jeannie," is astonishingly good whether taking the lead or comping behind the other soloists. His solo on "Chega de Saudade (No More Blues)" is so full of ideas that it feels as though they could have just played that song for the rest of the album. Wright's performances on alto and flute, meanwhile, will leave you wondering why he never achieved the fame of successor James Moody. And while the work by Hungarian guitarist Elek Bacsik, a cousin of Django Reinhardt, may not quite stand out at the same level, it lends a unique tone and is certainly not boring.

Maybe the most important thing, though, is that this music is just so good and so FUN at the same time. Dizzy's not serving up "intellectual" jazz here, despite the great skill and intellect that no doubt went into it. The recording begins and ends with the sound of children playing in the waves, and it's not hard to listen to all the delicious noises in between as one extended tone poem celebrating the emotions of a long, long summer. Despite the complexity, parts of it just make me want to dance, but it also finds time to explore happiness, laziness, mystery, and melancholy. Put all these elements together, and you can see why used LP versions of this recording regularly fetched more than $30 while the CD was out of print. My recommendation is to grab a copy before the same regrettable situation arises again: Dizzy on the French Riviera

The sound of waves and childrens voices at the start and finish of the album conjure sunshine and good feelings, and frame some of the best jazz ever. This is an enchanting album, and contains the best versions of some of Dizzy finest compositions, played by a group that really feels like it's together... Dizzy plays with heart, eschewing his all too typical excess showmanship, Lalo Schifrin plays some his best piano solos, foregoing movie cliches, Leo Wright's flute and sax are splendid, Pepito Riestria's percussion and the rhythm section of Rudy Collins and Chris White really move, and as a special bonus, a couple of tracks feature neglected Hungarian gypsy jazz guitarist Elek Bacsik. I can't understand why this album has not been released on CD.

This magnificant live performance from Jan Les Pins in 1962 has finally been released on CD!!. It was always one of Gillespie's best---along with another live recording by the same group (Leo Wright, alto and flute, Lalo Schiffran, piano and most significantly, arranger, Chris White, and Rudy Collins) called "An Electrifying Evening With the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet" on Verve (which was, and hopefully still is, available on a Verve CD reissue). I believe these are the only two recordings of this fabulous group, and both are essential. Gillespie was at his best, Leo Wright is simply on fire on alto, and the kicker is the amazing piano and arranging of Schiffran. This CD conveys the wonderful seaside atmosphere of Juan Les Pins, and the addition of a percussionist and a guitarist add to the authentic flavor of the occasion. Snatch this one up, as well as the other live recording CD by this short-lived group.

THIS IS AVAILABLE IN THE DIZZY GILLESPIE SMALL GROUP SESSIONS BOXED SET. THE SESSIONS WITH ROLLINS AND STITT ARE NOT INCLUDED. DIZZY GILLESPIE-THE COPENHAGEN CONCERT IS WITH THE GROUP WITH LEO WRIGHT. "AN ELECTRFYING EVENING WITH DIZZY GILLESPIE" IS BOTH IN THE BOX SET AND AVAILABLE INDIVIDUALLY" PARIS JAZZ CONCERT 1960" IS NOT IN THE BOX SET. BOTH FEATURE THE ALTO SAX AND FLUTE OF LEO WRIGHT.

WBGO played "No More Blues" the other day and I recognized the cut immediately from the seaside intro. I own the album too but came here to add the CD. Alas. The other reviews are on point. This should be re-released and truly is a classic.

Like other reviewers I loved this LP and could not remember the title. I thought it was the Jazz Festival, Montreux, around 1960 and was looking to get a CD of it. I had to slog thru 300 or so titles to finally get the right one only to discover it has never been released. Major dissapointment for I too remember playing this disc over and over and never tiring of it. I trust that it will be issued eventually, but I sure hate to wait. Another similar frustrating experience involved Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond's "The Duets" not available on CD. I even communicated with Brubeck about it demanding to know why this gem was not available. Anyway, the good news is that it now is, so that means there is hope for Dizz onthe French Riviera. Take heart, my friends.

Best jazz album ever. If you can keep still, listening to this one, you have no music in your soul. Super solos by some of the best in the business.
Arranged by Lalo Shiffrin.

I've been collecting jazz albums for over 50 years.

I didn't realize that I knew every note of this LP. In my younger days this was a house staple on Saturday morning when the family would get together to clean the house. That's what this Album represents to me, beautiful summer saturdays with the people I love. Dizzy and Lilo, don't know why they didn't play together more. No more blues is brilliant. It does something to your heart and soul when your listening. Pure pleasure.

Really enjoying this CD, didnt realise it was so old but its nowhere near dated. Love the sea lapping in the first song - you can almost imagine yourself sitting watching the lights twinkle on the water with a cocktail in your hand!

Last year, clearing the house after my Sister's death, I made the decision to get rid of all my old vinyl. Yes, I know: loads of anguish, comments from myself and others. But, I reasoned, I just don't have the space, I tend to move around more and new equipment is not what it used to be (One can re-enter the discussions about loudspeaker design, room acoustics, frequency response of amplifier and sound units, damping factor...)
At the end of the day, though, it's really about enjoyment. As a student colleague once commented, "You don't go to the loudspeaker with a stethoscope".

Dizzy on The French Riviera was my first stereo LP; it held a magic place in my memory. I didn't play it frequently but when I did it was very pleasurable to listen to the children playing, the sound of the waves and the gradual addition of good, undistorted Jazz.
I had deliberated about whether to hook up my equipment and convert to CD. Time. And if I'd done that, there would be others. More time. And I realised that I would find fault with the recordings and spend yet more time getting rid of the blemishes.
The hope was that, being such a good piece of music - "A Classic" - someone would have done it.
More settled, again, I searched and found my hopes satisfied.Dizzy has been digitised and a very clean album is the result; I'm quite content about paying again to regain something that I so cherished.
Happy smiles again whilst listening to such fantastic Jazz from the Masters.
Thank you. Very recommendable