Dedicated to Diz [live]

by Scott YanowTrombonist/arranger Slide Hampton pays tribute to the recently deceased Dizzy Gillespie during a collection mostly consisting of Dizzy's compositions. Hampton utilizes "The Jazz Masters," an all-star medium-size group also including trumpeters Jon Faddis, Roy Hargrove and Claudio Roditi, himself and Steve Turre on trombones, bass trombonist Douglas Purviance, the reeds of David Sanchez, Antonio Hart and Jimmy Heath, pianist Danilo Perez, bassist George Mraz and drummer Lewis Nash. Although there is a certain amount of predictability in their treatments of such tunes as "Bebop," "Tour De Force" and "A Night In Tunisia" (and "Overture" after a few song quotes becomes "Blue & Boogie"), the remarkable lineup of musicians cannot be passed over lightly.