Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Milt Jackson, Hank Jones, Ray Brown & Philly Joe Jones came together for a magnificent but little-known concert in Montréal in November, 1980.
A CD of this concert, Dizzy Gillespie & Friends – Concert of the Century (Justin Time JUST 259-2) was eventually issued in 2016 although I can’t recall reading any reviews of it at the time.
Everyone’s on superb form on eight tracks including originals from Gillespie & Moody, five standards and a stunning bass solo from Ray Brown.
Some of James Moody’s best ever tenor playing can be heard on an exhilarating version of The Shadow Of Your Smile.
‘Concert of the Century’ may be a slight exaggeration but the hour of inspired, beautifully recorded modern jazz from these six great musicians shouldn’t be missed.
Dave Taylor, Purbrook, Hampshire
