Salt Peanuts, Salt Peanuts

At this time we would like to play a tune - it was composed by my worthy constituent, Mr. Dizzy Gillespie, in the year of 1942 - we sincerely hope you do enjoy, Salt Peanuts.
(introduction by Charles Mingus)
 

That day in Toronto, May 15, 1953, when an all-star line-up recorded  one of the great live albums in jazz: Jazz at Massey Hall; an album released by Charles Mingus and Max Roach  on their Debut label.

Though the audio quality is far from perfect, the lineup is incredible. I wonder if you could come up with five greater players; each one was so famous, that they have become jazz icons. Such a discussion: the best quintet's imaginable! It would be a delightful conversation for us to have over coffee. Or perhaps wine if you are free one evening. I had a chianti last night that was out of this world. You'd prefer Scotch? Not a problem. I have a lovely 15-year-old. But for now let's focus on the band that blew the roof off of a half-empty Massey Hall on the same night Rocky Marciano knocked out Jersy Joe Walcott:

Charlie Parker: alto saxophone
Dizzy Gillespie: trumpet
Bud Powell: piano
Charles Mingus: bass
Max Roach: drums



suddenly in walked Bud, and then they got into something

From Max Roach's opening were he plays the melodic line on the drums before being joined by the rest of the band, you know this is going to be a killer track. First you are startled by Charlie Parker's solo, he sounds electrified and Dizzy shouting 'Salt peanuts! Salt peanuts!' to the  hall (where I have seen so many great shows) only adds to the intensity and you think "Who can top Bird?" Then Dizzy starts to blow and he matches Parker's skill, energy and ingenuity. Then comes Bud Powell, who had recently been released from a mental hospital and was in such rough shape that he had to be helped to the piano, and I challenge you to find Powell play any better. If you were to say that Powell, on that night at least, got the better of his bebop colleagues, I would have a difficult time arguing against you.

I listened to that song earlier, as I was enjoying this unseasonably warm autumn day, and I know I will be listening to it again in a few hours once I finish my afternoon appointments.

Until soon, my friend, when we shall discuss important issues like life and the greatest quintet.

Still Dizzy after all these years...

I have still been listening to a lot of Dizzy Gillespie but this time I am able to share the track with you. This song, 'My Heart Belongs To Daddy' is a jazz standard written by Cole Porter and has been recorded roughly 1,000,000 times (a slight exageration perhaps...) and though I have many fine versions of it, this one by Dizzy's band from 1959 is my favourite - or at least my current favourite.

This band doesn't have a cast of heavyweights, other than Sam Jones on bass, but don't let that fool you into thinking that this track is anything less than stellar. Les Spann plays some great guitar, which is all the more impressive since he was primarily a flautist! Another example proving that jazz musicians are in a class of their own. The combination of Dizzy's trumpet and Les' flute is wonderful on other tracks on the album so it may be worth tracking it down. You won't be disappointed.

One day in 1957 Dizzy, Benny & Gigi walk into a studio in NYC...

jazz riches!

I am fortunate enough to be the proud owner of the Mosaic Records boxset "Verve/Philips Dizzy Gillespie Small Group Sessions." I have been listening to it a great deal lately (as you would too!) and one session (of the 15 included in this set!!) that has recently captured me was recorded in 1957 and released as "The Greatest Trumpet of Them All" (and the case that he is the greatest could certainly be made: listen to this or this and the list could go on!).

Like many of the greatest recordings in jazz, it's the band that makes all the difference. Dizzy was always a fine player and one of those players who rarely put out a weak record. For this one, he not only pulled in two of the finest young sax players of the era, but also got them to arrange the eight tracks. Benny Golson on tenor and Gigi Gryce on alto. These men not only play amazing horns, but have that octet playing masterfully.  The arrangements are stellar and show the talents that these two men would continue to display.

an underrated album

Even if you don't want to shell out the $119 for the complete set (or download it from iTunes for $70) , I encourage you to track down this album and enjoy!