Bebop Reunion

The Rifftides staff thanks reader Richard Carlson for alerting us to a piece of video from a 1976 television program. It gives us James Moody, Ray Brown, Al Haig and Kenny Clarke playing Dizzy Gillespie's "Groovin' High." This is a rare opportunity to see Haig, one of the most influential bebop pianists. We glimpse Gillespie at the beginning of the clip, but he disappears behind Brown and doesn't play a note. Brown's ebullience may have been set off by what Dizzy said to him as he passed by. Note Clarke's admiration as Brown solos.

I once introduced Moody as an alto saxophonist. He quickly said, "Tenor saxophonist. I play alto only when I have to." The way he plays it here doesn't sound as if he was under duress.

To view the clip, click here.