HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

The Bebop of Dizzy Gillespie

Birth of Modern Jazz: Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie

Born John Birks Gillespie on 21 October 1917 in Cheraw, South Carolina, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie was to bebop what Miles Davis was to cool jazz. Born the youngest of nine children, Gillespie had begun playing piano at age four. He was well into trombone and trumpet by age twelve. He was later a student at the Laurinburg Institute on scholarship. Gillespie's first professional position was in 1935 with the Frank Fairfax Orchestra. He next joined Eddy Hayes' outfit, before replacing Roy Eldridge in Teddy Hill's orchestra. His first recorded solo, 'King Porter Stomp' (Bluebird B6988 with 'San Antone' flip side), was with Teddy Hill's band on 17 May 1937 in New York City [Lord]. That initial session also saw 'Blue Rhythm Fantasy' (Bluebird B6989) with 'I'm Happy, Darling, Dancing with You' sung by Bill Dillard flip side. Hill and Gillespie also supported Dillard on 'Yours and Mine' / 'I'm Feelin' Like a Million' (Bluebird B7013).

'King Porter Stomp' Dizzy Gillespie w Teddy Hill & His Orchestra

Fifth track of Gillespie's first-known session

17 May 1937 in NYC Matrix 010210-1 Bluebird B6988

Trumpet: Gillespie / Shad Collins / Bill Dillard Trombone: Dicky Wells

Clarinet / alto sax: Russell Procope / Howard Johnson

Tenor sax: Robert Carroll / Teddy Hill

Guitar: John Smith Piano: Sam Allen

Bass: Richard Fullbright Drums: Bill Beason

Composition: Jelly Roll (Ferdinand) Morton 1923

In 1939 Gillespie replaced Doc Cheatham in Cab Calloway's orchestra, first recording with Calloway on 30 August 1939, after which he joined Lionel Hampton's band for tracks on 11 September 1939. Gillespie kept with Calloway's operation for a couple of years, their final recording session on 10 September 1941. Unfortunately Gillespie and Calloway didn't get along. Gillespie had a sense of humor that Calloway found irritating. In the summer of 1941 the two eventually went to fisticuffs while rehearsing for a concert. Gillespie pulled a switchblade on Calloway, who had punched him during an argument that had exploded over someone tossing a spitball. Christopher Popa identifies that someone to have been Milt Hinton. A later interview with Calloway, however, identifies the culprit as Jonah Jones. Whichever the case, Gillespie managed a couple of superficial wounds before they were pulled apart. Gillespie was, of course, fired from Calloway's band, after which Gillespie found more peaceful work composing big band music for such as Woody Herman and Jimmy Dorsey. He had already held his first sessions as a leader at Minton's Playhouse in New York City in May of 1941, recording 'Star Dust' twice and 'Kerouac'.

'Hot Mallets' Dizzy Gillespie w Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra

Gillespie's third-known session

11 Sep 1939 in NYC Matrix 041408-1 Victor 26371 / RCA Victor EJB100

Trumpet: Gillespie

Alto sax: Benny Carter (arrangement)

Tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins / Chu Berry / Ben Webster

Guitar: Charlie Christian Piano: Clyde Hart Vibes: Hampton

Bass: Milt Hinton Drums: Cozy Cole

Composition: Hampton

'Pickin' the Cabbage' Dizzy Gillespie w Cab Calloway & His Orchestra

8 March 1940 in NYC Matrix WC-2983-A Vocalion 5467 / CBS 62950

Trumpet: Gillespie / Mario Bauza / Lammar Wright

Trombone: Tyree Glenn / Quentin Jackson / Keg Johnson

Alto sax: Jerry Blake (clarinet) / Hilton Jefferson / Andrew Brown (baritone)

Tenor sax: Chu Berry / Walter Thomas

Guitar: Danny Barker Piano: Benny Payne

Bass: Milt Hinton Drums: Cozy Cole

Composition: Gillespie

'Stardust' Dizzy Gillespie

One of two recordings of 'Stardust' made at Minton's Playhouse in NYC in May 1941

See Musidisc 30JA5122 (France) / Estoteric ESJ4

Trumpet: Gillespie Bass: Nick Fenton Drums: Kenny Clarke

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

In 1942 Gillespie worked with Ella Fitzgerald, then Earl Hines. He then joined Billy Eckstine's orchestra until 1945. Gillespie had begun pulling away from the big band sound while with Hines, starting to compose for small combos, and what would soon come to be called bebop. Gillespie's 'A Night In Tunisia', composed in 1942 though not recorded until January 1944, is among the earliest examples of such. Other of bebop's preeminent early masters were Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker. The term, "bebop" is said to have arisen as a result of Gillespie's scat singing: when fans didn't know the name of a song they would ask for "bebop" which the press picked up. Also called "rebop," "bebop" was common by 1945, Gillespie's collaborations with Parker ensuring that. Per the Town Hall concert in New York City below, only the first seven tracks were recorded in NYC on 22 June 1945. Discogs and Lord have the rest of the album below filled out with dates in Hollywood on 10 December 1945 and 24 January 1946 ('Salt Peanuts'). The last track, 'Blue n' Boogie', appears to have been recorded first on 5 June 1945 in Philadelphia with Parker (sax), Al Haig (piano), Curley Russell (bass) and Stan Levey (drums). See Comet Records UV 171 and Definitive Records DRCD 11250. Lord has the seven titles of the Town Hall concert alone issued on Uptown UPCD27.51. Credits below are per the Town Hall concert only.

Town Hall Concert Dizzy Gillespie Quintet

22 June 1945 in NYC (first seven titles only) See issues above

Personnel (Town Hall concert only):

Trumpet: Gillespie Alto sax: Charlie Parker

Tenor sax: Don Byas Piano: Al Haig

Bass: Curley Russell Drums: Max Roach / Sydney Catlett

After that period of work with Parker, Gillespie went on to form both smaller combos and larger orchestras. He also often performed with Norman Granz' Jazz at the Philharmonic, seventeen dates from January 28, 1946, at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles to November 26, 1966, at Royal Festival Hall in London [Lord]. During that period he also featured with Helen Humes in the film, 'Jivin' in Be-bop', recorded in September [Lord]. Wikipedia has that released in 1947.

'Jivin' in Be-bop' Dizzy Gillespie & His Orchestra Film

Recorded Sep 1946 in NYC Released 1947 On CD per Jazz Up JU-304 (Italy)

Directed by Leonard Anderson / Spencer Williams

Trumpet: Gillespie / Dave Burns / Elmon Wright / Matthew McKay / John Lynch

Trombone: Taswell Baird / Gordon Thomas

Alto sax: John Brown / Howard Johnson

Tenor sax: James Moody Baritone sax: Bill Frazier

Piano: John Lewis Vibes: Milt Jackson

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Joe Harris

Voice: Gillespie / Helen Humes / Kenny Hagood

Film Threat IMDb Wikipedia

In 1947 Gillespie began experimenting with the Afro-Cuban beat. He composed, for example, 'Manteca' with Cuban percussionist, Chano Pozo, in 1947:

'Manteca' Dizzy Gillespie & His Orchestra w Chano Pozo

30 Dec 1947 in NYC Matrix D7VB3090-1 Victor 20-3023

Trumpet: Gillespie / Benny Bailey / Dave Burns / Elmon Wright / Lamar Wright

Trombone: Ted Kelly / William Shepherd

Alto sax: Howard Johnson / John Brown

Tenor sax: Big Nick Nicholas / Joe Gayles Baritone sax: Cecil Payne

Piano: John Lewis

Bass: Al McKibbon Drums: Kenny Clarke Bongos / congas: Pozo

Composition: Gillespie / Pozo

Discogs

It was 1954 when Gillespie began playing trumpet with an upturned bell, his first manufactured for him that year by Martin. It's said that Gillespie had tested such a trumpet in 1937 and liked the tone. Another account has a couple of dancers crashing into it while it rested on a trumpet stand on stage at Snookie's in Manhattan in January 1953. Gillespie put his trashed trumpet to his mouth and liked what it blew. (Christie's auction house sold Gillespie's first bent Martin for $63,000 in 1995.)

'A Date with Dizzy' Dizzy Gillespie Quintet Italian television 1956

Trumpet: Gillespie Alto sax: Sahib Shihab

Piano: Wade Legge Bass: Nelson Boyd Drums: Charlie Persip

Jazz::Animated

In 1956 Gillespie toured the Middle East, then appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival the following year. That was recorded, as well as nine more appearances at Newport in 1957, 1959-60, 1963-68 and 1972.

'Dizzy's Blues' Dizzy Gillespie & His Orchestra

6 July 1957 at the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island Verve MGV8242

Trumpet: Gillespie / Benny Bailey / Dave Burns / Elmon Wright / Lamar Wright

Trombone: Melba Liston / Al Grey / Chuck Connors

Alto sax: Ernie Henry / Jimmy Powell

Tenor sax: Billy Mitchell / Benny Golson Baritone sax: Pee Wee Moore

Piano: Wynton Kelly Bass: Paul West Drums: Charlie Persip

Composition: A.K. Salim

Discogs

'DOWNBEAT' magazine inducted Gillespie into its Jazz Hall of Fame in 1960.

Concert in Italy Dizzy Gillespie Quintet Italian television 1960

Trumpet: Gillespie Alto sax: Leo Wright (flute)

Piano: Junior Mance Bass: Art Davis Drums: Teddy Stewart

Jacob Obleser

Concert in Italy Dizzy Gillespie Quintet Television

Jazz 625 Aired 17 Aug 1966

Trumpet: Gillespie Tenor sax: James Moody

Piano: Kenny Barren Bass: Christopher White Drums: Rudy Collins

TVDB

Circa 1970 Gillespie began to involve himself with the Bahá'í Faith. In 1979 he published his autobiography, 'To Be or Not to Bop' with assistance from writer, Al Fraser.

Concert in Denmark Dizzy Gillespie Television

4 Nov 1970 Tivoli Gardens Concert Hall in Copenhagen

Trumpet: Gillespie / Benny Bailey / Art Farmer / Dusko Goycovich / Idrees Sulieman

Trombone: Nat Peck / Ake Persson / Erik van Lier

Alto sax: Tony Coe / Derek Humble

Tenor sax: BIlly Mitchel / Ronnie Scott Baritone sax: Sahib Shihab

Piano: Francy Bolland Bass: Jimmy Woode Drums: Kenny Clarke

Montreux Jazz Festival Dizzy Gillespie Big 7

16 July 1975 Switzerland

Trumpet: Gillespie Tenor sax: Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis / Johnny Griffin

Piano: Tommy Flanagan Vibes: Milt Jackson

Bass: Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Drums: Mickey Roker

This album on Pablo Records 2310 749: Discogs Wikipedia

During the eighties Gillespie led the United Nations Orchestra. In 1989 he is proposed to have given 300 performances in 27 countries, appeared on three television specials, performed with two symphonies and recorded four albums. One busy musician. France also made him Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1989, in addition to receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jazz Middelheim Dizzy Gillespie & the United Nations Orchestra Television

1989 in Antwerp, Belgium Aired 13 Feb 1990

Trumpet: Gillespie / Arturo Sandoval / Claudio Roditi

Trombone: Slide Hampton / Steve Turre

Sax: Paquito D'Rivera / James Moody (flute) / Mario Rivera

Piano: Danilo Perez Bass: John Lee

Percussion: Ignacio Berroa / Giovanni Gio

In 1990 Gillespie received the Kennedy Center Honors Award, as well as the Duke Ellington Award given by the ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers). He was awarded the Polar Music Prize by Sweden in 1993, the year he died of pancreatic cancer on January 6. With a highly prolific 544 recording sessions during his career [Lord], 293 of those his own, Gillespie had performed at Carnegie Hall 32 times and been distinguished with fourteen honorary doctorates. Gillespie's final album is thought to be 'To Bird with Love' recorded at the Blue Note on 25 January 1992. Tom Lord traces Gillespie on trumpet to as late as 'Toreador' on January 31, 1992, per Steve Turre's album, 'Sanctified Shells'.