DIZZY GILLESPIE: A portrait of Duke Ellington (1960)

DIZZY GILLESPIE & CLARE FISCHER
(CB, de Londres)
Este álbum, gravado em 1960, foi um dos primeiros trabalhos de CLARE FISCHER como arranjador. O convite feito por Dizzy surgiu depois de ouvir os arranjos que CF havia escrito para um álbum de Donald Byrd. A partir deste álbum, o prestígio de Clare Fischer como arranjador cresceu e, sem dúvida, ajudou muito a alavancar sua brilhante carreira. O texto adiante transcrito confirma esta assertiva.
" While with The Hi-Lo's, Fischer arranged a record by trumpeter Donald Byrd, on which well-known standards by subtle use of strings and harps acquired a new, melancholical quality. Even though Byrd's album September Afternoon remained on the shelves of the record company for twenty-five years, Fischer was so lucky that the trumpeter played a copy for Dizzy Gillespie. Gillespie in his turn asked him for his own "Portrait of Duke Ellington," which was well received. In 1960 albums for vibraphonist Cal Tjader and pianist George Shearing followed as did an eight year career of writing music for commercials. Fischer was ready to sign his first record contract".
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ALBUM REVIEW
I lost this one to theft about 7 years ago and it was one of the handful of really essential discs that I was unable to replace at the time. Absolutely superb covers of Ellington by Dizzy's late 50's big band. The version of Caravan in particular is priceless; the mute on the trumpet in the opening intro tiptoes around the harem, then the mute comes off as the sultan swaggers in. It's wonderful -- flashier than Ellington might have done, perhaps, but very nice; I'm sure Ellington approved as he has put together some strange versions of Caravan himself (look for Money Jungle, a trio setting with Ellington, Mingus and Max Roach, for a particularly spare version).
The only regret is that the copy I lost was a cheap reissue in a jewel case, not the expensive import version here which comes in a carboard sleeve mimicking the original LP jacket. It's a matter of taste but I prefer jewel cases where I can see the title on the spine when I'm scanning through my shelf.
By T.C. Browne (Montreal, QC, Canada)
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MINHA OPINIÃO: a formação instrumental utilizada por Clare Fischer para esta "mini-orquestra" de Dizzy Gillespie, incorpora alguns elementos (tuba, trompas e flugelhorn) que já haviam sido utilizados anteriormente por arranjadores do "West Coast Jazz" (Pete Rugolo, Manny Albam, Johnny Mandel, etc). Mas a maneira como Clare Fischer os utiliza em algumas faixas, demonstra que ali estava o embrião do "Clare Fischer Orchestral Sound", que viriamos a ouvir ao longo dos anos e pode ser encontrado, perfeito e acabado, 40 anos depois, nos arranjos para João Gilberto no álbum "JOÃO". Quanto a Dizzy e seu "dream team", assim como as obras primas de Ellington & Strayhorn, dispensam longas dissertações ou comentários: são excelentes.
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DIZZY GILLESPIE: A portrait of Duke Ellington (1960)

PERSONNEL:
Dizzy Gillespie (tp)
Bennie Green (tb)
Ray Alonge, Richard Berg, Joe Singer (frh)
Jay McAllister (tu)
Robert DiDomenica (fl)
Ernest Bright, John Murtaugh, Paul Richie, Stan Webb (woodwinds)
George Devens (vib)
Hank Jones (p)
George Duvivier (b)
Charlie Persip (d)
Clare Fisher (arr, dir)

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
1. In a Mellow Tone
2. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
3. Perdido
4. Serenade to Sweden
5. Chelsea Bridge
6. Upper Manhattan Medical Group
7. Do Nothin' Till You Hear fromMe
8. Caravan
9. Sophisticated Lady
10. Johnny Come Lately
11. Come Sunday