Many of trumpeter
Dizzy Gillespie's recordings for the Verve label in the '50s and early '60s show him at the peak of his powers. This three-CD set is a sampler of his legacy, with the discs subtitled "Big Band," "Small Groups & Guests" and "In an Afro Cuban, Bossa Nova, Calypso Groove." The programming jumps all over the place and makes little sense but this set serves as a good excuse to acquire 40 performances by the great
Gillespie and the many all-stars who recorded with him. Few but the most fanatical veteran
Gillespie fans will have all of these selections. This collection filled a void until Verve got around to doing a much more comprehensive
Dizzy Gillespie reissue program. ~ Scott Yanow