A special evening with grand master of jazz Dizzy Gillespie and a joint of Latin musicians from Central and South America which formed The United Nation Orchestra.
Filmed in 1989, it would out turn out to be one of Gillespie's final performances (this one at the Royal Festival Hall), turned into a Grammy Award winning album in 1991 and
in 1993 he was gone.
Along with Artuto Sandoval, Danilo Pérez, Paquito D'Riviera Flora Purim, James Moody and many others, Dizzy delivers a sensational and very rhythmic performance of
jazz classics such as "Tin Tin Deo", "Seresta/Samba for Carmen" and the unbeatable "A Night in Tunisia", a love ballad from Djavan (performed by Flora) and as the name of
the group indicated as being a joint of Latin musicians, the majority of themes performed had a Latin vibration and swing to it, which to some might not look jazz all that
much - but I loved it and I never get tired of it. Now, "Dizzy Shells" by Steve Turre is one of the weirdest trips I've ever seen with a multitude of instruments and the
use of sea shells.
Usually when I talk about music in the reviews here is mostly about music videos and how the experience works since the cinema aspect can be found in some projects, so
I'm a little out of my depth to give you the full scope on this performance. All I can say is that the music sounds terrific, everything is played with good energy and soul,
and there are some small humored moments that makes the night even more special (James Moody's act is hilarious). But seeing "And Then She Stopped" with Gillespie and
Sandoval together, almost as if we're seeing a duel of masters, is priceless (it feels like a duel in some parts because you can spot some bits where Arturo is showing off
some virtuosity, fast movements and hitting the notes very loudly).
I've seen this special several times, sometimes I just hear it because it really sounds fantastic, everything's in its right place. 10/10.
