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Dizzy Gillespie - Afro Audio CD

A fair review of the Dizzy Gillespie "Afro" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Dizzy Gillespie reviews here, or go back to the Dizzy Gillespie tabs.

Dizzy Gillespie Band: Dizzy Gillespie
Title: Afro
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-05-07
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Manteca Theme 2: Contraste 3: Jungla 4: Rhumba-Finale 5: Night in Tunisia 6: Con Alma 7: Caravan

AFRO AFRO AFRO
. . I'm speechless. When I bought this record I listened to 100 times and I'm not done yet. Going on 1000.


A Morning in Tunisia
The CD itself is a digitally remastered 24-bit limited edition release. It's about 1:30 AM as I listen to a copy of Dizzy Gillespie's "Afro" that came in the mail today. I don't even really have a system nice enough to really take advantage of the sound. Still, my mind is almost meltin' outta my ears as I listen to this mindblowing marriage of "Afro-Cuban Vs. Afro-American" jazz.

I would say that it's like nothing I've ever heard. . . but that wouldn't be accurate. I grew up listenin' to jazz and so-called "latin" music as much as R&B and hip hop. It would prolly be more accurate to say that it's like nothing I've heard in years. And, in fact, I'm almost dumbfounded that I've never heard this album until now.

Dizzy Gillespie has always been one of my favorite jazz musicians, second only to Miles Davis--and it's an extremely close second. Dizzy's "A Night in Tunisia" (he's recorded several versions, right?), has been one of my favorite numbers since I was a kid. Tonight, for example, I'm now well into the 19th or 20th replay of the 1954 version on this album--and there's still two more tracks on the CD to go!

For years I've played the "if you had to be stuck on a desert island with ten albums, which ones would they be?" game with friends and acquaintances. I'm not even gonna torture myself over exactly who it's gonna be. . . but Dizzy Gillespie just replaced someone on that list tonight.


A piece of musical history...
Although Chano Pozo's life was brutally cut short in 1948 - 6 years before Afro was released, his influence throughout the album is undeniable. To many, Dizzy Gillespie's collaboration with Chano Pozo spearheaded the development of Afro Cuban Jazz (or Cubop). Manteca Theme, Contraste and Jungla are all based on the bass line of Manteca; a track originally composed by Gillespie and Pozo. "Manteca" means "lard" or "grease" in Spanish. It was also a slang word used by Cubans in the 1940s to describe "marijuana". The great Cuban percussionist was once quoted to have said to the equally legendary American trumpeter: "Me no speak English, you no speak Spanish, but we speak African". The album title couldn't have been more appropriate!!!
.


A Granddaddy To Fusion

The famous Manteca,Night In Tunisia,Caravan are all here in their glory and the wonderful percussion and horn work throughout makes this a lively affair worthy of the colorful artwork and somehow certainly was far ahead of it's time when it was put out. Dizzy was able to explore and synthesize various styles and in this case Afro-Cuban modes of music.
When listening to "new" rock bands such as Santana,War you can hear the influence Dizzy had on these players.
Digipak authentic classic Verve remaster.
Sound booms a bit but is more than fine for it's day and era. .


There is a reason why they call me Dizzy too...
Not only is it Dizzy's finest hour, it is some of the wildest music him and his great band ever played. and this awesome piece of music is why. The wild Cuban beats combined with Dizzy's wild playing make for a very memorable listening experience. Dizzy Gillespie was the greatest trumpeter who ever lived and is just about tied for that title with Miles Davis. Listen to this masterpiece and you might just agree with me.


You can see a complete list of all Dizzy Gillespie discography, or go back to the Dizzy Gillespie tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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