Search - Dizzy Gillespie :: All Star Sessions: 3 Classic Albums Plus

Dizzy and friends

Robin Benson | 10/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another 155 minute bargain from the UK Avid label. Basically three Gillespie LPs from the fifties: Tour de force 1955; Duets 1957; Sittin' in 1957 plus three tracks from the Stuff Smith+Dizzy Gillespie 1957 LP (with two tracks missing).



Of the three LPs I preferred Sittin' in because it includes Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins and Paul Gonsalves playing some knockout jazz on two 'Ballad Medley' tracks totaling twenty-three minutes and then a wonderful thirteen minute 'The way you look tonight'. The three tenors play in sequence and I found it fascinating to hear them together like this playing extended solos, Hawkins (predictably) is outstanding.



Duets has a splendid 'Wheatleigh Hall' with Gillespie and Sonny Rollins and Tour de force has a great track with the seventeen minute `Steeplechase' with Gillespie, Roy Eldridge and Harry Edison all playing on top form.



I thought the three Stuff Smith fillers rather unnecessary, not because they are not good tracks, just that they are rather out of style with the other three LPs. These tracks were originally sold as Smith plus Dizzy and Oscar Peterson.



Great jazz for the price!





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