Bebop Reunion Expanded

It turns out that the exhilirating version of "Groovin' High" that was the subject of yesterday's post was only a sample. It came from an hour television program that, if you have enough bandwidth, you may watch in its entirety. Rifftides reader Richard Carlson again does the setup:

Now that I've recovered a bit from yesterday's feast, maybe I can supply some details about the clip---and, I'm assured, more to come from that show. It's an early Soundstage production, the PBS series that features the kind of artists they usually show us during the fund-raising "festivals". The program was titled "Dizzy Gillespie's Bebop Reunion," and if you Google that title it appears commercial release may have occurred at some point. Soundstage does not offer it among its merchandise.

Each artist gets a feature and "Groovin' High" turned out to be Moody's. Milt Jackson also is on hand, as are Sarah Vaughan and Joe Carroll...so there is much to look forward to. Everybody is in positively peak form! There also are segments in which Diz theologizes about his spiritual life and, since it was shot in Chicago, takes us to the Baha'i temple there.

I found out about the session when Grange Rutan, Al Haig's widow, gifted me with a DVD of it she made. Grange, dubbed Lady Haig by Dizzy, published her book about Al this year, entitled Death Of A Bebop Wife, and it sold out almost immediately. If anybody wants a copy you might write Cadence and ask for a second printing.

Grange Rutan is also in touch with Rifftides, a bit miffed about the pricing of her Haig book on the internet and happy to provide further ordering information.

I almost fainted when I saw that amazon.com was out of it but had nine reviews and a used copy they are willing to sell for $75.00 when the going rate is $28.00 plus $6.75 with Cadence Jazz Books at 315-287-2852. I have a few autographed copies at my office that I would be glad to personally sell. You could reach me by e-mail at alhaigbebop@aol.com.

Lady Haig offers a description of the segment of the show in which Gillespie, Moody, Sarah Vaughan, Milt Jackson and Joe Carroll create a first-generation bebop scatfest:

The endorphins will really kick in when they all scat...Al laughing at the piano propelling them into a magcial and chaotic blending of bebop at it's finest. Kenny Clarke is his elegant self and Joe Carroll is so hip.

Intrigued? You can watch the whole thing by clicking here. Don't let the opening sequence of artsy-craftsy 1970s psychedelic jump cuts throw you. After a few minutes, things settle down.

Grange Rutan says she knows of no plan to release this as a commercial DVD. Too bad.