Search - Dizzy Gillespie :: Sittin' in

ALL STAR JAM SESSION!

Giovanni Marra | Lockport, IL | 07/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Norman Granz, the man who revoloutionized what the world now knows as 'jazz' with his Clef Norgran and Verve labels and the stars that emerged from them. And every once in a while, Granz would get the idea to throw a jam session together; assemble some of his stars together (and more often than not, some that you wouldnt think would jive together) and record them in concert or studio settings. Here is one such collaboration of some mighty big names: Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Paul Gonsalves on the horn/sax side, and Wynton Kelly, one of the most underrated pianists of this era along with JC Heard and Wendell Marshall. I am still researching whoever thought up these medleys they'd come up with (See JAZZ GIANTS '58 on Verve for a real treat and another fine array of jazz all-stars) but even songs, albeit great songs, that wouldnt appear to belong 'together' flow together seamlessly. It's no wonder Getz and Gonsalves are programmed one after the other, to show their likenesses as well as their differences. Wynton Kelly may have stolen the whole show here with his version of THIS TIME THE DREAMS ON ME, although Gonsalves preceeds him with a fine reading of WITHOUT A WORD OF WARNING. Gonsalves, long time Ellington tenor also outdoes himself in the second medley with his version of GONE WITH THE WIND. Getz is no slouch with I'M THROUGH WITH LOVE but really shines on the Styne/Cahn classic TIME AFTER TIME. Coleman Hawkins' work on SEPTEMBER SONG is very noteable as well (he would do this song with Illinois Jacquet for the Clef label earlier with even more gorgeous results). The cherry on the top is, at least according to Nat Hentoff's liner notes, this whole affair took these geniuses all of about five hours to lay down on wax and leave for us to enjoy for generations to come. A very welcome addition to your jazz collection."

Excellent jam session

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 06/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the best of the numerous jam sessions put together by Norman Granz for recording purposes on his Verve label, this one done in June 1957. No actual leader is listed (though Dizzy Gillespie might as well get the nod), but what's special about it is the three-tenor line-up: Coleman Hawkins, Paul Gonsalves, and Stan Getz. It's great to see Father Hawk amongst these whippersnappers, and he doesn't give an inch, either. The album consists of two up-tempo jam pieces, DIZZY ATMOSPHERE and THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT, and two ballad medleys, a favorite idea of Granz's. The two up tunes are basically cutting sessions among the three tenor giants, with no winner being declared (except for maybe Dizzy on trumpet on DIZZY ATMOSPHERE, who is on fire and just might cut them both). The nature of both tunes and the setting of the participants make for a wind-em-up-and-watch-em-go result - though the trip is an exciting one. Much more finesse is shown in the ballad medleys: Getz is especially lyrical and inventive on I'M THROUGH WITH LOVE, while Hawkins really shines while wrapped around his BIG tenor sound in STOMPIN' AT THE SAVOY. In the second medley, which is taken faster than the first, Getz (TIME AFTER TIME) and Gonsalves (GONE WITH THE WIND) seem to challenge each other for the Most Lyrical Tenor Player crown (thank goodness I'm not the judge). When giants like these get together to blow, everyone in hearing distance will be in for a treat. Great stuff!"