Dizzy Gillespie - 1961-1964: The Classic Philips Albums (2023)

One of the most recognised and esteemed names in all of jazz music, Dizzy Gillespie's work, his live performances and his multiple recordings are legendary. A truly gifted player on his chosen instrument, the trumpet, Gillespie was famous for the complexity of his improvisation. His work also had a profound effect on the popularity of bebop during the 1940s and 1950s. Dizzy's influence on host of jazz masters who followed in his footsteps, from Miles Davis to Lee Morgan and numerous others, was profound, and he embraced a wide variety of styles and arrangements during his lifetime. Some of his finest work emerged during the late 1950s to the mid-1960s, when he was initially signed to Verve Records, and then, from 1962 onwards, to the legendary Philips label. This four-disc collection, containing over five hours of music in total, features eight of the finest LPs Gillespie recorded for Philips during the 1961-1964 period, and houses some of the best playing to grace jazz records at this time.