Customer Reviews

I'm Beboppin Too

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

 

 

This one is fun! Even if you are not all that familiar with Dizzy Gillespie's great music and bands that he fronted for many years, you will get a real "feel" for his music style in this update of his familiar compositions as well as some new material. From the start, you can feel the energy and the mood because these players are having a ball!

The "All Star Big Band" is loaded with some old pros and contemporary talents like Jimmy Heath, Roy Hargrove, Cyrus Chestnut, Slide Hampton and Lewis Nash, keeping the beat. Some fine vocal numbers are also provided by Roberta Gambarini who rips on standards "Lover Come Back to Me" and "If You Could See Me Now."

A great tribute recording to a jazz giant.

Don't pass this one up!

Am unable to write a review but rather question the source of the material since no information is provided concerning the date and location of the actual recording. Having listened to the samples of the tracks here on Amazon I have a strange feeling that certain of these are taken from the two previous releases by this brilliant band and its soloists. If in fact it is simply another "Best Of" issue, why are we not told? This band has appeared in numerous locations from coast to coast. None of these concerts have been issued on CD. One wonders why.

I had the opportunity to hear the Dizzy Gillespie All Star band in a live performance in Pennsylvania. I was extremely pleased with their performance to the extent that I wanted to buy a CD during intermission. Unfortunately, they did not sell CDs during the concert. It was the best big band sound I had heard in over 10 years. The combination of large sound, improvisation and singing was outstanding. I was motivated to order this CD a couple of days later. While I'm realistic that a CD cannot replicate the presence of a live performance, I was frankly a bit disappointed with the CD. It simply does not represent the quality nor range of sound that was present in the live performance. So, I would rate this as an "OK" CD, but it's certainly not a favorite.

This record will not disappoint. The playing is stellar, and you have everyone from James Moody to Roy Hargrove on the record. My particular favorite track is "Round Midnight". The arrangement is killin'.