Things To Come CD

3rd Rel;Conductor-John Faddis

Full performer name: The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Star Big Band.l
Personnel: Frank Wess (alto saxophone, flute); Antonio Hart (alto saxophone); James Moody (tenor saxophone, flute); Jimmy Heath (tenor saxophone); Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone); Earl Gardner, Greg Gisbert, Terell Stafford, Claudio Roditi (trumpet); Slide Hampton, Jay Ashby, David Gibson (trombone); Douglas Purviance (bass trombone); Renee Rosnes (piano); Marty Ashby (guitar); John Lee (bass); Dennis Mackrel (drums); Duke (percussion).
Recorded live at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in September 2000. Includes liner notes by Phil Schaap.
Personnel: Marty Ashby (guitar); Frank Wess (flute, alto saxophone); Antonio Hart (alto saxophone); Jimmy Heath (tenor saxophone); Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone); Claudio Roditi, Greg Gisbert, Jon Faddis, Terell Stafford, Earl Gardner (trumpet); Jay Ashby, Slide Hampton (trombone); Douglas Purviance (bass trombone); Renee Rosnes (piano); Dennis Mackrel (drums).
Audio Mixers: Jay Ashby; Jay Dudt.
Liner Note Author: Phil Schaap.
Recording information: Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, Pittsburgh, PA (09/2000).
Photographer: Robert Bowman.
The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars are a "ghost" band of sorts run by trumpeter and Gillespie protégé Jon Faddis. Recorded to celebrate the music and memory of Gillespie, Things to Come is a fiery live recording made in September of 2000 at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild; all proceeds from the sale of this disc go directly to the Craftsmen's Guild's minority-focused arts and learning center. Featuring various Gillespie band alumni, from saxophonist Jimmy Heath to trombonist Slide Hampton, the album features updated arrangements of Gillespie originals and songs associated with the innovative jazz icon. The supersonic trumpet of Faddis is featured throughout and, as he's been called upon to do many times, he does a terrific job of emulating his idol. While this is a pristine-sounding and flawless recording, the simple fact that these songs, such as "Manteca" and "Stablemates," are such warhorses of the jazz idiom makes the CD seem a tad predictable. Nonetheless, fans of straight-ahead modern jazz and bebop should be very pleased with the results. ~ Matt Collar

JazzTimes (9/02, p.122) - "...Breathes new life into such Gillespie staples as 'Things to Come', 'Ray's Idea', 'Manteca', 'A Night In Tunisia', 'Emanon' and 6 other classics..."