GROOVIN' HIGH:
The Life of Dizzy Gillespie
By Alyn Shipton
Oxford University Press,
422 pages, $30
reviewed by David Simpson

Black beret, horn-rimmed glasses, tidy goatee, gigantically out-puffed cheeks, muted trumpet with upswept bell: surely there is no image more immediately or widely recognized as an icon of jazz—and especially of the jazz style known as bebop—than that of John Birks Gillespie, the virtuoso horn player better known as Dizzy.

The Antioch Review—
Special Jazz issue
Antioch University, Summer 1999
442 pages, $8.50
reviewed by Don Rose

The Antioch Review, one of the nation's leading literary magazines, published a special issue this summer devoted entirely to jazz—with a special focus on the music's relationship to and effects on the other arts. This is apparently the first time any journal of comparable stature has given jazz this extended attention, and the editors have come up with some genuine winners among the 14 wide-ranging pieces it gathered.

Excerpts from
The Book of Jobbing
Translated from the ancient Sumerian
by Steve Hashimoto

The translator is a Chicago bass player.

I. THE WEDDING
And so it came to pass, during one date, that the Sidemen were assailed by Doubts, and Darkness descended upon the Bandstand.

And the Leader turned to his quaking flock, and saith

My children, why do you doubt me? Have I not led you through the Valley of the Loading Dock to the Great Land of Long Breaks, Hot Meals, and Undertime?

Eldee Young and Marshall Vente:The Long and Short of Jazz

Jeff Parker/Bernard Santacruz/Michael Zerang: Vega

Recorded live at Les 7 Lézards—a jazz club in Paris—“Vega” documents the first two performances by a trio comprised of Chicagoans Jeff Parker (g) and Michael Zerang (d), and French bassist Bernard Santacruz. This unlikely encounter can be credited to Alexandre Pierrepont—a French writer and ethnomusicologist who has been frequently visiting Chicago in the past few years.

Diane Delin: Origins

Diane Delin plays the violin, has an original concept and composes fine tunes. Over the years many violinists have imitated the popular instruments and jazz styles of the moment. On this recording, Diane imitates no one and chooses to play her melodies and solos in a very musical and seemingly uncomplicated way. All of the tunes work together, ranging from swing to jazz waltz, modern bossa and more. There is a subtle fire here that grows with repeated listening.

Orbert Davis: Priority

Trumpeter Orbert Davis is nearly everywhere there is fine jazz in Chicago. On this, his second CD release, Davis shows us his great chops, fine original compositions and his interpretations of the music of Wayne Shorter and Bill Withers.

Laksar Reese and Chuchito Valdes Jr.: Encantado

I had just heard about a session at Steve Yates Studio with Chuchito, the son of famed Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes, then Laksar found me and gave me this CD for review!

With such a pianist on board it is safe to assume that this is a burning Afro-Cuban jazz CD! The program gives us mostly originals by Chuchito and/or Reese, Coltrane's "Giant Steps," and "Tres Lindas Cubanas." The music here is simply wonderful, very articulate, strong and clean.

Kick The Cat

Now that jazz-fusion is well over 30 years old, we should accept it as one of the many styles of jazz and appreciate it for its high level of art. When it emerged years ago, jazz musicians we criticized for selling out for mixing their jazz with rock rhythms. Meanwhile, Herbie, Chick, Mahavishnu developed the music, set the model and built a remarkable audience base. Fusion is popular because the masses can relate to its high energy and, although not dance music, it is grounded in the music of the dancers of the day.

Cecile Savage: Petite Fleur

Cecile Savage, from the French Island of Martinique, is known for her acoustic bass also sings well in both French and English. This CD, made possible by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council, is a beautiful work in progress. The music here reflects the long love affair between the French and jazz, with classic tunes Petite Fleur, Autumn Leaves (with the rarely heard verse) and My Man. This is a unique CD and Cecile should be heard, no one else is doing this in Chicago and there is always a place for good music!