From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.
Groovin' High (Gillespie) Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band featuring Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone.
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and singer, known as one of the principal innovators of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies. He was born on October 21, 1917, in Cheraw, South Carolina, and began playing piano at the age of 4. By 12, Gillespie had switched to the trumpet and began experimenting with the instrument that would later become his signature.
Gillespie made a name for himself in the late 1930s and early 1940s when he played with renowned big bands, including those led by Cab Calloway and Billy Eckstine. However, it was during the 1940s that Gillespie, along with saxophonist Charlie Parker, pianist Thelonious Monk, and others, truly revolutionized jazz by developing the bebop style, which focused on improvisation and complex musical structures. This was a stark departure from the big band swing sound that had dominated the 1930s.
In the 1950s, Gillespie became a significant figure in the development of Afro-Cuban jazz, a synthesis of jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms, creating an exciting, danceable style. His compositions like "Manteca" and "A Night in Tunisia" have become jazz standards. Gillespie continued to perform and record extensively into the late 20th century, influencing generations of musicians with his innovative approach to jazz. He passed away on January 6, 1993, but his legacy continues to resonate through the jazz world, making him one of the genre's most iconic figures.
