Odyssey: 1945-1952
Savoy Jazz does bebop fans a great service by culling together tracks from a wide variety of labels and a wide range of settings for this useful three-disc collection. As such, it documents Dizzy Gillespie's transition from revolutionary upstart to champion of the jazz world. In actuality, none of these recordings were made for the original Savoy label, except for a four-song 1946 date led byRay Brownand on which Dizzy was billed as "Izzy Goldberg." The rest were originally made for Guild, Musicraft, Discovery, and Gillespie's own Dee Gee Records. Much of the music here is simply indispensable: the widely known and justifiably renowned 1945 quintet sides withCharlie Parker; a series of superb Gil Fuller arrangements (for both sextet and big band) from 1946; and a 1951 session with violinistStuff Smithstand out in particular. There's plenty else here of interest as well--dates with blues singer Albinia Jones and novelty jive singerSlim Gaillard, and Gillespie-led small-band sessions with a range of stars and soon-to-be stars, includingJohn Coltrane,Dexter Gordon,Milt Jackson,J.J. Johnson, andArt Blakey.Odysseyoffers ample proof of Dizzy's many talents: his thrilling athleticism and invention on trumpet, his vivaciousness and humor, and his great versatility and open-mindedness.--Marc Greilsamer