Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra – Afro (Mono)
RARITY - SEALED
Trumpet – Dizzy Gillespie [click here to see more vinyl featuring Dizzy Gillespie]
Trumpet – Ernie Royal (A1-4), James Nottingham (A1-4), Quincy Jones (A1-4)
Bass – Robert Rodriguez, Lewis Hackney (A1-4)
Bongos – Jose Mangual
Congas – Candido Camero (B1-3), Rafael Miranda (B1-3), Ramon Santanaria (A1-4)
Drums – Charlie Persip (A1-4)
Flute – Gilberto Valdes (B1-2)
Piano – Alejandro Hernandez (B1-3), Ray Concepcion (A1-4), Wade Legge (A1-4)
Saxophone – Danny Bank (A1-4), George Dorsey (A1-4), Earl Mobley (A1-4), Hilton Jefferson (A1-4), Lucky Thompson (A1-4)
Timbales – Ubaldo Nieto
Trombone – George Matthews (A1-4), J.J. Johnson (A1-4), Leon Comegys (A1-4)
Conductor –Chico O'Farrill (A1-4)
Arranged by Chico O'Farrill (A1-4), Dizzy Gillespie (B1-3)
Written by Chano Pozo (A1), Dizzy Gillespie (A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2), Chico O'Farrill (A2, A3, A4), Frank Paparelli (B1), Juan Tizol (B3)
1 LP, Standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Mono
Studio
Record Press : Record Technology Incorporated
Label : Vinyl Me Please - Classics series
Original Label : Norgran Records
Recorded on May 24 and June 3, 1954 in New York City
Produced by Norman Granz
Remastered by Ryan K Smith at Sterling Sound
Artwork by David Stone Martin
Liner Notes by Dean Van Nguyen
Originally released in November 1954
Reissued in September 2022
Tracks:
Side A:
- Manteca Theme
- Contraste
- Jungla
- Rhumba-Finale
Side B:
- A Night In Tunisia
- Con Alma
- Caravan
Reviews:
“Pairing Dizzy Gillespie with Cuban arranger/composer Chico O'Farrill produced a stunning session which originally made up the first half of a Norgran LP. O'Farrill conducts an expanded orchestra which combines a jazz band with a Latin rhythm section; among the participants in the four-part "Manteca Suite" are trumpeters Quincy Jones and Ernie Royal, trombonist J.J. Johnson, tenor saxophonists Hank Mobley and Lucky Thompson, and conga player Mongo Santamaria. "Manteca," written during the previous decade, serves as an exciting opening movement, while the next two segments build upon this famous theme, though they are jointly credited to O'Farrill as well. "Rhumba-Finale" is straight-ahead jazz with some delicious solo work by Gillespie. A later small-group session features the trumpeter with an all-Latin rhythm section and flutist Gilberto Valdes, who is heard on "A Night in Tunisia" and "Caravan." Both of the Latin versions of these pieces are far more interesting than "Con Alma," as the excessive percussion and dull piano accompaniment add little to this normally captivating theme. Long out of print, this 2002 reissue will only be available until May 2005; it is well worth acquiring.” AllMusic Review by Ken Dryden
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4 / 5 , Discogs : 4.5 / 5