Birks Works: The Verve Big-Band Sessions cover

Birks Works: The Verve Big-Band Sessions

Recorded
1956-1957
Released

Between April 1956 and July 1957, Dizzy Gillespie recorded three sessions with a 14- or 15-member band stacked with players like trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, trombonist Melba Liston (who also contributed arrangements), and pianist Wynton Kelly. The music was originally released as the albums Birks Works, Dizzy In Greece and World Statesman; this compilation packs it all onto two CDs, including numerous outtakes and alternate takes. This is not subtle music — it comes screaming at you, with a four- or five-trumpet section (and three trombones) hitting hard, but the rhythms are supple and swinging, and Gillespie’s fascination with Latin music is explored beautifully on “A Night In Tunisia,” “Tin Tin Deo,” and “Yo No Quiero Bailar,” among others. The amped-up treatment of “Autumn Leaves,” which almost everyone plays as a subdued ballad, is a surprise, but not an unpleasant one.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Baden-Baden '75 cover

Baden-Baden '75

Globe Unity Orchestra
Solo, Vol. 1 cover

Solo, Vol. 1

John Bunch
In Pursuit cover

In Pursuit

Donny McCaslin
The Music Of Wayne Shorter cover

The Music Of Wayne Shorter

Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Music from the Mauve Decades cover

Music from the Mauve Decades

Bobby Gordon, Keith Ingham, Hal Smith
The Hearinga Suite cover

The Hearinga Suite

Muhal Richard Abrams
Summit Meeting cover

Summit Meeting

Allan Vaché, Ken Peplowski, Antti Sarpila
Otto Malling: Paulus; Frelserens syv Ord paa Korset cover

Otto Malling: Paulus; Frelserens syv Ord paa Korset

Jutland Chamber Choir, Helge Gramstrup, Mogens Dahl