Note: If this item looks familiar, it is because I mistakenly posted it on October 17. Today, October 21, is the correct date of Dizzy’s birth, so the Rifftides staff is moving the piece to where it belongs and adding a couple of links—DR.
This is the birthday of Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993). In observance, here is a remarkable confluence of the talents of Gillespie and the master composer and arranger Robert Farnon (1917-2005). The piece is Gillespie’s “Con Alma,” orchestrated by Farnon and conducted by him at London’s Royal Festival Hall in 1985. The delay between video and audio is mildly disconcerting, but the music is glorious.
For insight into how Dizzy’s thoughtfulness and generosity affected one of many musicians, see today’s entry in Diane Moser’s blog.
For a personal remembrance, see this Rifftides archive piece.