Audio CD review:
Dizzy Gillespie - Birk's Works: Verve Big Band Sessions

Dizzy Gillespie - Birk's Works: Verve Big Band Sessions

Band: Dizzy Gillespie Title: Birk's Works: Verve Big Band Sessions Rating: Release Date: 22 August, 1995 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Dizzy's Business 2: Hey, Pete 3: Jessica's Day 4: Tour de Force 5: I Can't Get Started 6: Stella By Starlight 7: Doodlin' 8: A Night In Tunisia 9: The Champ 10: Yesterdays 11: Tin Tin Deo 12: Groovin' For Nat 13: My Reverie 14: Dizzy's Blues 15: Annie's Dance 16: Cool Breeze 17: School Days 18: Jordu 19: Yo No Quiero Bailar 20: Birks' Works 21: Autumn Leaves 22: Tangorine 23: Over The Rainbow 24: Umbrella Man 25: If You Could See Me Now 26: Left Hand Corner (False Start) 27: Left Hand Corner 28: Left Hand Corner 29: Left Hand Corner (False Start) 30: Left Hand Corner 31: Whisper Not 32: Whisper Not 33: Whisper Not 34: Stablemates 35: That's All 36: Groovin' High 37: Mayflower Rock 38: Mayflower Rock 39: Joogie Boogie 40: I Remember Clifford 41: You'll Be Sorry 42: Wonder Why

Editoral Review The set collects three individual albums from 1956-57--"Birks Works," "Dizzy In Greece" and "World Statesman"--some alternate takes, and a fascinating sequence of attempts at "Left Hand Corner" that shows the band's dedication to perfection. Dizzy Gillespie was many things--a great bop trumpeter, superbly prescient vocalist, awesome bandleader, international ambassador, crowd-pleasing humorist, the ultimate master of ceremonies--all sides of his massive talent amply displayed in this cornucopia of Gillespie big bands. Some of the great players on these sessions include Phil Woods and Ernie Henry on alto saxophones, Lee Morgan and Quincy Jones on trumpets, Al Grey on trombone, Walter Davis Jr. , and Wynton Kelly on piano with Charli Persip on drums. And, of course, since it's Dizzy's band, everybody sings. --John Swenson .. You can see a complete list of all Dizzy Gillespie discography, or go back to the Dizzy Gillespie tabs