Dizzy Gillespie at Birdland, photo by Marcel Fleiss
Although Chano Pozos conga drums are missing from the ensemble (he died in 1948), this live performance tells of the legacy he and Gillespie fosteredgrafting Afro-Cuban rhythms with straight-ahead jazz. This State Department tour brought the killer big band to South America. Baritone saxophonist Marty Flax played a significant anchoring role with his percussive attack, keeping the deep groove of this chant infused with vitality. His solo is gruff and heavy, but also lyrical. The delayed phrasing by Gillespie on the melody is offset by the pyrotechnic showcase he and the brass section display throughout.