Dizzy Gillespie

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This edition presents the complete original LP Diz & Getz (Norgran MGN-1050/Verve MGV-8141), on which Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz share the frontline backed by a rhythm section led by Oscar Peterson and with Max Roach on drums. Getz and Gillespie had previously recorded two songs together on January 10, 1950, during a crowded session purported to showcase the Metronome poll winners. The songs, “Double Date” and “No Figs”, were both arranged by Pete Rugolo and also included Kai Winding on trombone, Buddy DeFranco on clarinet, Lee Konitz on alto sax, Serge Chaloff on baritone sax, Lennie Tristano on piano, Billy Bauer on guitar, Eddie Safranski on bass, and Max Roach on drums. Solo space, thus, was scarce. Their next collaboration would be the 1953 date featured here, Diz & Getz, which was yet another of Norman Granz’s various attempts to bring together jazz stars of different styles, an idea he also implemented on his live tours of Jazz at the Philharmonic.

PERSONNEL:

DIZZY GILLESPIE, trumpet
STAN GETZ, tenor sax
OSCAR PETERSON, piano
HERB ELLIS, guitar
RAY BROWN, bass
MAX ROACH, drums

Los Angeles, December 9, 1953.

(Except on track 6: Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Hank Mobley (ts), Wade Legge (p), Lou Hackney (b), Charlie Persip (d). New York, May 25, 1954.)

Note: Four tunes from the Gillespie-Getz date (“It Don’t Mean a Thing”, “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart”, “Exactly Like You”, and “It’s the Talk of the Town”) were first issued in 1953 on a 10-inch LP on the Norgran label as The Dizzy Gillespie-Stan Getz Sextet. This was followed in 1954 by a second 10-inch LP, titled More of the Dizzy Gillespie-Stan Getz Sextet, which contained the rest of the session (“Girl of My Dreams”, “Impromptu”, and the two-part “Siboney”). Because the three tunes were too short in themselves for a complete 10-inch album, an instrumental side from a 1954 session was added, performed by Gillespie with a quintet that featured a then little known Hank Mobley on tenor sax. All of these tunes were finally included in 1955 on the 12” LP reissued here.

SIDE A :

1 IT DON’T MEAN A THING (IF IT AIN’T GOT THAT SWING)
2 I LET A SONG GO OUT OF MY HEART
3 EXACTLY LIKE YOU
4 IT’S THE TALK OF THE TOWN

SIDE B :

1 IMPROMPTU
2 ONE ALONE
3 GIRL OF MY DREAMS
4 SIBONEY (Parts I & II)