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Dizzy Gillespie
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John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie (October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. He was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, singer, and composer. Gillespie, with Charlie Parker, was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz.
In addition to featuring in these epochal moments in jazz, he was instrumental in founding Afro-Cuban jazz. Gillespie was a trumpet virtuoso and gifted improviser. In addition to his instrumental skills, Dizzy’s beret and horn-rimmed spectacles, his scat singing, his bent horn and pouched cheeks, and his light-hearted personality endeared many to what was regarded as threatening and frightening music.
In his playing, Gillespie built on the “saxophonic” style of Roy Eldridge and the harmonic complexity of Charlie Parker and then went far beyond Bird. That is, unlike his great contemporary, Dizzy made a point of enthusiastically teaching future generations (such as Miles Davis at the time) about the convolutions of bop.
His memorable trademarks were distending his cheeks while playing (unlike most trumpet players, who are trained not to do this — “Gillespie’s pouch” is purportedly a term used by the medical community for cheek distention) and a trumpet whose bell was bent at a 45 degree angle rather than a traditional straight trumpet. This was originally the result of accidental damage, but the constriction caused by the bending altered the tone of the instrument, and Gillespie liked the effect.
In addition to featuring in these epochal moments in jazz, he was instrumental in founding Afro-Cuban jazz. Gillespie was a trumpet virtuoso and gifted improviser. In addition to his instrumental skills, Dizzy’s beret and horn-rimmed spectacles, his scat singing, his bent horn and pouched cheeks, and his light-hearted personality endeared many to what was regarded as threatening and frightening music.
In his playing, Gillespie built on the “saxophonic” style of Roy Eldridge and the harmonic complexity of Charlie Parker and then went far beyond Bird. That is, unlike his great contemporary, Dizzy made a point of enthusiastically teaching future generations (such as Miles Davis at the time) about the convolutions of bop.
His memorable trademarks were distending his cheeks while playing (unlike most trumpet players, who are trained not to do this — “Gillespie’s pouch” is purportedly a term used by the medical community for cheek distention) and a trumpet whose bell was bent at a 45 degree angle rather than a traditional straight trumpet. This was originally the result of accidental damage, but the constriction caused by the bending altered the tone of the instrument, and Gillespie liked the effect.
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Things to Come
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The Dizzy Gillespie Story
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The Jazz Masters Series-Groovin' High
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The Dizzy Gillespie Story: 1939-1950
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A Night In Tunisia
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Manteca
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Groovin' High
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Dizzy Atmosphere
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Salt Peanuts
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Desafinado
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Hot House
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Tin Tin Deo
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Good Bait
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I Can't Get Started
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Manteca (Funky Lowlives Remix)
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All The Things You Are
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Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac
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Con Alma
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Shoutbox
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Slaything wrote:
holy cheeks..
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kwa_nqingetje wrote:
great photo
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Neon143 wrote:
Salt Peanuts. <3
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thedeep325 wrote:
@cozfunkel - i'm listening to "Afro" right now and it's pretty awesome.
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johngebreadman wrote:
join this group to honor all the wonderful musicians who have sadly moved onto the great gig in the sky http://www.last.fm/group/The+Great+Gig+in+the+Sky
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imuzico wrote:
lovable..
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UsPeaches wrote:
i enjoyed watching those jaws :-)
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bananaleafman wrote:
who i can say is what a legend!!
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bpohanka wrote:
Trumpet Genius..
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CocoaDusted wrote:
Craziest cheeks the world has ever seen.
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bobbiflekman wrote:
Just saw BBC 4's broadcast of the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet on Jazz 625 back in the 60s. As well as being a great musician, he was a really funny and charming bloke.
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BillyNovik wrote:
Great Man!
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Jazzylicious187 wrote:
Though There Was Miles, I Really Enjoy Dizzy
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crowdedfalafel wrote:
How great he was live. A genius in several dimensions.
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rembi69 wrote:
great trumpet!
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st0mpr wrote:
The real thing and Free Ride are my favourite albums from Dizzy, so funky!
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anathemaddicted wrote:
genius
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Isera wrote:
/signed
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hollabackitsobi wrote:
Whoever tagged Dizzy Gillespie with "smooth jazz" is a person who deserves to die.
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Casualties_army wrote:
Love Dizzy! On artist I really wish i could have seen live. Matrix just makes me really happy
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Recent Activity
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hd_van_dieren, mockingbyrd99, yafmac and 7 other people added Dizzy Gillespie to their libraries. 1 minute ago
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SUPERMUSKIATO tagged Dizzy Gillespie with ‘jazz’. yesterday afternoon
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GABBER777 tagged Dizzy Gillespie with trumpet, bebop and jazz. yesterday afternoon
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anwi1179 added Dizzy Gillespie to anwi1179’s library. yesterday afternoon
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mr_maxis wrote about Dizzy Gillespie in Best of 2009 - 500 artists list. yesterday afternoon
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mr_maxis wrote about Dizzy Gillespie in a deleted journal. yesterday afternoon
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andrevshimself tagged Dizzy Gillespie with ‘jazz’. yesterday morning
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ormbajs tagged Dizzy Gillespie with ‘bebop’. Wednesday evening
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Best of 2009 - 500 artists list
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