Dizzy on the French Riviera (Dig)

Three years ago I wrote an Amazon review of this recording, praising the music featured on it and bemoaning that the CD had been out of print for more than 15 years. Now that the CD has become available as part of Verve's "Originals" series, I am thrilled to be able to revise the review to provide more consumer information:

"Dizzy on the French Riviera" combines music from two of Gillespie's 1962 small-group sessions, a June session recorded in France (Juan-Les-Pins) that reportedly produced tracks 1, 5 & 7 and a May session actually recorded in NYC that produced the remainder. The recordings are unified, though, by the presence of two unique soloists sharing the limelight with Dizzy -- Texan Leo Wright on woodwinds and South American composer Lalo Schifrin on piano, both of whom would be replaced in Gillespie's entourage within the year -- as well as by a decidedly exotic flavor combining bossa nova composition, multiple percussionists, and occasional gypsy-jazz guitar...Read more

The sound of waves and childrens voices at the start and finish of the album conjure sunshine and good feelings, and frame some of the best jazz ever. This is an enchanting album, and contains the best versions of some of Dizzy finest compositions, played by a group that really feels like it's together... Dizzy plays with heart, eschewing his all too typical excess showmanship, Lalo Schifrin plays some his best piano solos, foregoing movie cliches, Leo Wright's flute and sax are splendid, Pepito Riestria's percussion and the rhythm section of Rudy Collins and Chris White really move, and as a special bonus, a couple of tracks feature neglected Hungarian gypsy jazz guitarist Elek Bacsik. I can't understand why this album has not been released on CD.

This magnificant live performance from Jan Les Pins in 1962 has finally been released on CD!!. It was always one of Gillespie's best---along with another live recording by the same group (Leo Wright, alto and flute, Lalo Schiffran, piano and most significantly, arranger, Chris White, and Rudy Collins) called "An Electrifying Evening With the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet" on Verve (which was, and hopefully still is, available on a Verve CD reissue). I believe these are the only two recordings of this fabulous group, and both are essential. Gillespie was at his best, Leo Wright is simply on fire on alto, and the kicker is the amazing piano and arranging of Schiffran. This CD conveys the wonderful seaside atmosphere of Juan Les Pins, and the addition of a percussionist and a guitarist add to the authentic flavor of the occasion. Snatch this one up, as well as the other live recording CD by this short-lived group.