Customer Reviews

To a Finland Station

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

By the time Dizzy recorded this album, his trumpet chops clearly weren't what they once were, not that he sounds bad here - 'cause he doesn't. Sandoval, on the other hand, is such a Gillespie disciple that this album is like listening to the elder-statesman Dizzy of the 80's playing with the young-buck Dizzy of the original be-bop era. Amazing chemistry - when they play in unison (track 3 for instance), it reminds me of a Herb Alpert record (Aplert's trademark sound, of course, was created by double-tracking his own horn). Another surprise: although not credited for it on the sleeve, Dizzy also blows some funky jew's harp on three or four cuts. (I remember Dizzy's cameo on the Cosby Show, in the 80's. He portrayed the school music teacher of one of the Huxtable daughters, and in that episode treated us viewers to an excellent jew's harp solo. Up until that time, I never new that Diz was an avid jews-harpist!)

Senor Sandoval has had his heart broken by the number of albums, recorded by the "original" Irakere, which were still left in Havana after his Aug 1990 escape (they are surfacing on CD now at HMV.co.jp). They are masterpieces, especially Chekere Son, recorded in Tokyo.
This album with Diz, was an additional, superhuman effort which had been lost. It's surfacing now on CD is a blessing.
BTW, Sandoval told me personally, during a trumpet lesson, that he and Diz did not hire any studio musicians for this disc....ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTS ARE EITHER DIZ OR ARTURO...BEING OVERDUBBED...IT'S ALL JUST THE 2 OF THEM !!!!!
Dr. Alan S. Altman

This is a very special session. Made only in one day, without any previous preparation, Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval and a very good Finish rhythm section show what jazz is all about: imagination, improvisation, high class technique, seamless musicality and, above all, joy of blowing the trumpet, joy of making music. One of the best jazz albums ever.

Things cant get any better than this! If u like trumpet music,this is the ultimate record! Mr Sandoval and Diz plays like robots,not a singel mistake! Arturo plays speed and high notes like nowone can do after him and Diz plays Diz!If i had to choose one singel cd,this would be it! SUPERB!!!!!!!!!!!

Arturo Sandoval and Diz REALLY get down on this album. Arturo is truly a great trumpet player and they trade chops very nicely. This is not done in the typical cliche tongue in cheek type of way. This is some real blowing. If you get a chance to see Arturo, do it. He is also an incredible piano player... who would'a thunk it.

I bought this album three years ago, but I just discovered it a year and a half ago. Diz and Arturo really break it up. Their playing is amazing. Diz, as always, plays incredibly, with some excellent runs. Arturo must have been playing alot with Diz at the time, because he sounds exactly like him... That's alright though, because he plays almost as well, and who cares if there are two diz's? The rythm section is also really good. There is some really interesting stuff that they do.

I've heard some of Dizzy's stuff 1.didn't like it. 2.The recordeing's I heard were allfull ,some of worst I've ever heard production value none sound quality of a 8-trak. But this alblum is "BAD" in good way.

I bought this album three years ago, but I just discovered it a year and a half ago. Diz and Arturo really break it up. Their playing is amazing. Diz, as always, plays incredibly, with some excellent runs. Arturo must have been playing alot with Diz at the time, because he sounds exactly like him... That's alright though, because he plays almost as well, and who cares if there are two diz's? The rythm section is also really good. There is some really interesting stuff that they do.