Search - Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry :: Trumpet Kings - Montreux Jazz Festival 1975

A Major Tour de Force

Edward Abbott | Stuart, FL USA | 12/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Oscar Peterson, Louis Bellson and Neils Pedersen live Montreux July 16, 1975. WoW what a night that must have been. But then again this is what set Norman Granz apart from other would be producers. His knack for putting together jazz greats and getting them to park their collective egos and get on with what they always did best. And that was the pure American art form that we know as jazz. And what a historic meeting this was.



The Sextet:



Dizzy Gillespie - Trumpet

Roy Eldridge - Trumpet

Clark Terry - Trumpet

Oscar Peterson - Piano

Neils Pedersen - Bass

Louis Bellson - Drums



Indepth liner notes by Benny Green on this once in a lifetime event, that will never happen again.



It just doesn't get any better than this, when it comes to a live jazz performance. No doubt this is a standard that has yet to be equalled.



This was the cap of the Montreux Jazz Festival as each of these greats had performed earlier in their own settings and for a final tour de force. Norman Granz had them put on this over the top finale. And as the jazz gods would have it, all went off without a hitch and for a live performance the recording process is one of the best I have heard.



I mean, think about it for a minute, here you have these titans of jazz together on stage all at once!! Can you imagine what really went on there. Each of these greats pushing each other to loftier heights, and then on the next track pushed to another elevated level and it just keeps building steam from that point to the last track laid down. All though these guys must have been tired from a full day of live sessions, no matter they are completely rejuvenated by all being together on stage one last time.



The audience was way into this session and it shows big time on this recording. Each time one of the Trumpet Kings take the stage the audience just erupts. By my take on this, it was not planned but a spontaneous session, that was put together for fan appreciation. And these guys did not dissappoint.



There are few indeed live jazz recordings that can be called a tour de force, but this certainly ranks as one of the few that are. If this recording doesn't get your blood pumping, then you probably need a pacemaker or something!!!



This is an absolute must have of recorded jazz of the past century by the greats that knew no limits of their art. No doubt a serious must have for your jazz library.

"