Dizzy Gillespie: PORTRAIT OF DUKE ELLINGTON

[ghost of miles]

Pulled this one out today, as I'm working on a long-delayed Night Lights show about Clare Fischer...very nice uncredited arrangements from Clare--fine tribute to DKE's music overall. No personnel listed on the CD (or the original LP, which we have here at the station), but I did find it online:

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Bennie Green (trombone); Ray Alonge, Richard Berg, Joe Singer (French horns); Jim McAllister (tuba); Robert Di Domenica (flute); John Murtaugh, Ernest Bright, Paul Richie, Stan Webb (woodwinds); Hank Jones (piano); George Devens (vibraphone, percussion); George Duvivier (bass); Charlie Persip (drums).

Recorded in New York on April 27th and 28th, 1960. Includes liner notes by Benny Green.

[jazztrain]

Ghost:

That's odd. My CD has the personnel listed and also credits Fischer with the arrangements (which, I agree, are quite nice).

It appears to be one of those Polygrams made in West Germany (817 107-2). It's a 1984 reissue, but I recall finding it used earlier this year.

Pulled this one out today, as I'm working on a long-delayed Night Lights show about Clare Fischer...very nice uncredited arrangements from Clare--fine tribute to DKE's music overall. No personnel listed on the CD (or the original LP, which we have here at the station), but I did find it online:

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Bennie Green (trombone); Ray Alonge, Richard Berg, Joe Singer (French horns); Jim McAllister (tuba); Robert Di Domenica (flute); John Murtaugh, Ernest Bright, Paul Richie, Stan Webb (woodwinds); Hank Jones (piano); George Devens (vibraphone, percussion); George Duvivier (bass); Charlie Persip (drums).

Recorded in New York on April 27th and 28th, 1960. Includes liner notes by Benny Green.

[ghost of miles]

I have a relatively recent Japanese reissue that I bought through Mr. Tanno a year or so back...just realized that it does indeed list the personnel, but in Japanese...as it quite naturally would, of course!

Not sure which CF arrangement I'm going to use from the album--wrote down about half of 'em as possibilities while I was listening to it.

[jazztrain]

I remember liking UMMG a lot.

I have a relatively recent Japanese reissue that I bought through Mr. Tanno a year or so back...just realized that it does indeed list the personnel, but in Japanese...as it quite naturally would, of course!

Not sure which CF arrangement I'm going to use from the album--wrote down about half of 'em as possibilities while I was listening to it.

[Chuck Nessa]

I bought the lp at the time it was released. I was "in love" with Diz at the time - I thought he and Rollins and Ellington were gods, but I never could connect with the date and I still can't. I have to think early Clare and Diz and Duke were a mis-match.

[Larry Kart]

My experience was the same as Chuck's, though I'd like to hear a well-remastered version to be sure. What I recall as Fischer's rather gratingly "bitty" woodwind dissonances might sound better if the sound quality itself were less dry than on the old LP.

[paul secor]

Three in a row - I had an LP version 40 or so years ago & could never connect with it. It might be interesting to listen to it today (I no longer have the LP) and find out if I still hear it the same way.

[jlhoots]

In view of the above I'm glad I sold my vinyl copy years ago for some pretty good $$.

[ghost of miles]

Fischer's a big admirer of DKE but the arrangements aren't overly reverential--in fact, they give an interesting twist on the Duke-Strayhorn tunes IMO & I like hearing Diz's trumpet in these settings. Record worked for me, but YMMV--"no" votes from the gents above obviously carry a great deal of jazz cred. Jazztrain, yes, "UMMG" is one of the five or six sides that I jotted down for possible use on the show.

[JSngry]

It was disappointed in it as well. Maybe I had set my hopes too high. Or maybe in a different place than where the music actually was.

Maybe Fischer could revisit the album/arrangements and have Jon Faddis play Dizzy's parts on a new "shoulda done it THIS way" anniversary tribute donkatontennial celebration album.

[JSngry]

Now here's a Dizzy "Portrait Of..." album that is worth a revisit every so often:

[ghost of miles]

I was disappointed in it as well.

Oh man, I think I just got un-rec'd by the Council of Organissimo Jazz Jedis! Next thing you know Clare Fischer himself will pop in here to say "Son, it just didn't turn out as good as you think..."

Jsngry, I haven't heard that Diz album, but I think we might have an LP copy in the station's library. I'll have to pull it out and give it a listen.

[JSngry]

I don't think Claire Fisher would say anything remotely like that. Trust me.

And truthfully, over the years I've read a lot of good things about the album, which is why my hopes were so high. I mean, I dig Claire Fisher's writing, big time. So if you're hearing it to your satisfaction, you are not alone, and follow your bliss that way. Nothing to feel "funny" about.

Now as far that Perception album, that's kind of stealth, because "popular perception" is that it's pretty mcuh a "funk" album. But hell, what's this? NO KIT DRUMMER. And who's in the rhythm section? The Gonzalez brothers (Andy & Jerry), Nicky Marrero, Patato Valdes, that's who, along w/Mike Longo & George Davis on guitar. The Gonzalez brothers alone would be reason enough for me to check it out, but you add those other two cats, hey...

What you really got hear is a stealth descarga album, not a jazzy/funk jam, although if that's the only point of reference you can bring to it, then you can go there with it as well. But Andy Gonzalez is at root a Salsa bassist, not a jazz or funk one, so that's your foundational rhythmic pulse right there. The feel is subtly different, even if the grooves are, on the surface, familiar. Whole 'nother thing, it is. Put three percussionists on top of it, and even a tune that is "jazzy" in structure like "Timet" becomes a Latin tune.

Definitley a sleeper of an album, I think, and one that very few jazzmen of the time besides Dizzy could have made so effortlessly & organically. Check it out.

BTW - I saw Andy Gonzalez once w/a Tito Puente "Latin Jazz All Stars" band, and the cat was BAD. Jorge Dalto was on piano, moving the chords all over the place, and Andy was right there with him, never losing the clave. Pretty amazing playing, and part of a relatively underground musical world that a lot of "jazz fans" know casually if at all, myself included, to be honest.

All I'm saying is that when you listen to Portrait Of Jenny for the first time, listen to Andy Gonzalez' bass work. Everything else is coming off/out of that.

[mikeweil]

I can't remember the exact date or reason I bought that CD (with full credits), but since I love Diz, Duke, and Clare Fischer, it was a no-brainer. I knew the UMMG arrangement from Fischer's Thesaurus LP, so I wasn't surprised. I think Fischer did wisely to not try the slightest attempt to approach Duke's arrangement style but instead respectfully treated Duke's and Strayhorn's tunes with his own approach - I like it a lot because IMO it's one of the most original Ellington tributes ever made.

Of course I'm biased since I love Fischer's woodwind writing.

Edited October 18, 2009 by mikeweil

[jazztrain]

Perceptions and taste can change over time. I remember not being especially moved by the album when I bought it years ago on LP, but it grew on me slowly over the years. I revisited it after picking up the CD earlier this year and liked it a lot more, especially the writing for the woodwinds that mikeweil previously noted.

I can't remember the exact date or reason I bought that CD (with full credits), but since I love Diz, Duke, and Clare Fischer, it was a no-brainer. I knew the UMMG arrangement from Fischer's Thesaurus LP, so I wasn't surprised. I think Fischer did wisely to not try the slightest attempt to approach Duke's arrangement style but instead respectfully treated Duke's and Strayhorn's tunes with his own approach - I like it a lot because IMO it's one of the most original Ellington tributes ever made.

Of course I'm biased since I love Fischer's woodwind writing.

[Peter Friedman]

I am with Mike. I like this one a lot. Though when I first bought it on LP when first released I was not crazy about it. Over time I grew to very much enjoy it . Clare Fischer's arrangements provide Dizzy with a different setting than is typical for him.

On the other hand PERCEPTION is not to my taste and I sold my copy long ago.

[Chuck Nessa]

Have it on cd and still think it's lame. I certainly didn't expect it to sound like regular Ellington (was looking for a new slant) and it sounded lame to me, like a grad student's attempt.

FWIW, I am a fan of much of Fischer's work.

Edited October 19, 2009 by Chuck Nessa

[fasstrack]

Pulled this one out today, as I'm working on a long-delayed Night Lights show about Clare Fischer...very nice uncredited arrangements from Clare--fine tribute to DKE's music overall. No personnel listed on the CD (or the original LP, which we have here at the station), but I did find it online:

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Bennie Green (trombone); Ray Alonge, Richard Berg, Joe Singer (French horns); Jim McAllister (tuba); Robert Di Domenica (flute); John Murtaugh, Ernest Bright, Paul Richie, Stan Webb (woodwinds); Hank Jones (piano); George Devens (vibraphone, percussion); George Duvivier (bass); Charlie Persip (drums).

Recorded in New York on April 27th and 28th, 1960. Includes liner notes by Benny Green.

Yeah, Clare. That first tune especially, UMMG, is beautifully handled. And it's a walk in the park for Diz. Nice, relaxed tempo, too.

There's a live recording of Dizzy featured with the Ellington band at a birthday party for Duke in Washington, D.C., I believe. He gets a spot and there are a few other guests. I'm sure it came out commercially at some point but I wouldn't know what it's called.

[kh1958]

Pulled this one out today, as I'm working on a long-delayed Night Lights show about Clare Fischer...very nice uncredited arrangements from Clare--fine tribute to DKE's music overall. No personnel listed on the CD (or the original LP, which we have here at the station), but I did find it online:

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Bennie Green (trombone); Ray Alonge, Richard Berg, Joe Singer (French horns); Jim McAllister (tuba); Robert Di Domenica (flute); John Murtaugh, Ernest Bright, Paul Richie, Stan Webb (woodwinds); Hank Jones (piano); George Devens (vibraphone, percussion); George Duvivier (bass); Charlie Persip (drums).

Recorded in New York on April 27th and 28th, 1960. Includes liner notes by Benny Green.

Yeah, Clare. That first tune especially, UMMG, is beautifully handled. And it's a walk in the park for Diz. Nice, relaxed tempo, too.

There's a live recording of Dizzy featured with the Ellington band at a birthday party for Duke in Washington, D.C., I believe. He gets a spot and there are a few other guests. I'm sure it came out commercially at some point but I wouldn't know what it's called.

Jazz Party on Columbia. It's live in the studio.

[jazzbo]

But not Washington, D.C. studio, rigtht? Similar. . . but not the same recording. . . I believe (am not by my collection and haven't found recording data for Jazz Party in a quick search).

[Chuck Nessa]

Columbia's 30th St studio on Feb. 19, 1959, the day before the Back to Back/Side by Side sessions with Johnny Hodges and six days before the Queen's Suite.

Edited October 21, 2009 by Chuck Nessa

[jazzbo]

Thanks Chuck. That's about what I thought.

[fasstrack]

Pulled this one out today, as I'm working on a long-delayed Night Lights show about Clare Fischer...very nice uncredited arrangements from Clare--fine tribute to DKE's music overall. No personnel listed on the CD (or the original LP, which we have here at the station), but I did find it online:

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Bennie Green (trombone); Ray Alonge, Richard Berg, Joe Singer (French horns); Jim McAllister (tuba); Robert Di Domenica (flute); John Murtaugh, Ernest Bright, Paul Richie, Stan Webb (woodwinds); Hank Jones (piano); George Devens (vibraphone, percussion); George Duvivier (bass); Charlie Persip (drums).

Recorded in New York on April 27th and 28th, 1960. Includes liner notes by Benny Green.

Yeah, Clare. That first tune especially, UMMG, is beautifully handled. And it's a walk in the park for Diz. Nice, relaxed tempo, too.

There's a live recording of Dizzy featured with the Ellington band at a birthday party for Duke in Washington, D.C., I believe. He gets a spot and there are a few other guests. I'm sure it came out commercially at some point but I wouldn't know what it's called.

Jazz Party on Columbia. It's live in the studio.

Thanks.

[jazzbo]

Jazz Party is great. But it does NOT contain that D.C. recording you were writing about. It has a studio recording of Dizzy and others with the Orchestra, as well as great tracks of the Orchestra without guests.

Sadly, Columbia let this one go out of print.

[Hot Ptah]

Dizzy plays on two cuts on Duke Ellington's "Jazz Party". He is the featured soloist on "UMMG", and plays a solo on the concluding blues, "Hello Little Girl", sung by Jimmy Rushing, with Jimmy Jones on piano.

"Hello Little Girl" is quite a rousing recording.

These are studio recordings.