Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience All-Stars
History has produced its share of great artists and great people – John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie was both. As a performer, he left behind an incredible record of innovation and inspiration; as a composer, a broad repository of musical masterpieces; and as a man, a legion of friends, colleagues and compatriots who remember him with the same degree of love and esteem they reserve for his work.
“Try to imagine jazz at this point in history” wrote Jonathan Yardly in the Washington Post shortly after Dizzy’s death in January 1993, “without ‘Night in Tunisia’ or ‘Manteca’ or ‘Con Alma’ or ‘Woddy ‘n’ You’ and you have imagined the unimaginable.”
Officially authorized by Lorraine Gillespie, and under the leadership of Dizzy’s long-time bassist John Lee, a selection of ensembles of varying sizes were formed, featuring many of the wide variety of musicians who worked with Dizzy plus some newer talents from the jazz scene. Together they are working to continue the legacy of both the music and the personality of this great jazz master who had such a profound impact on twentieth century music.
The Afro-Latin Experience showcases Dizzy Gillespie’s love of world music, which he successfully fused with jazz during his entire career. His vast repertoire includes compositions that were inspired by his love of the African, Argentinian,Brazilian, Caribbean, Cuban, and Spanish music cultures. Dizzy’s fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz was ground breaking. The well-loved melodies of “Manteca” and “Tin Tin Deo” are an important part of the jazz vernacular. Dizzy also wrote vibraphonist Cal Tjader’s afro-cuban hit “Soul Sauce”. Dizzy was also the first American musician to recognize the great
Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim’s genius with his 1957 classic recording of Jobim’s “No More Blues” and his famous recording of “Desafinado” from Dizzy on the Rivera. His well known discovery and collaboration with the great Argentinian pianist Lalo Schifrin (who Dizzy discovered in Buenos Aries during a tour of Argentina in 1956) produced many great compositions and arrangements. The ensemble features Dizzy’s longtime bassist and musical director John Lee, Freddie Hendrix on trumpet & flugelhorn, Sharel Cassity on alto saxophone & flute, Steve Carrington on tenor saxophone, Cyrus Chestnut on piano, Tommy Campbell on drums, and Roger Squitero on congas, bongos, and percussion.
Find Out More About:
Dizzy Afro Cuban Experience
https://dizzygillespie.org/dizzy-gillespie-afro-cuban-experience/
Dizzy All-Stars
https://dizzygillespie.org/dizzy-gillespie-all-stars/
Dizzy Big Band.
https://dizzygillespie.org/dizzy-gillespie-big-band/
The Musicians
https://dizzygillespie.org/the-musicians/