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Big Band Report
Back in the Saddle Again...
Jack Bowers
A former newspaper writer / editor who has been writing about big-band Jazz for more than fifteen years.Dizzy Gillespie Honored
On January 6, the eleventh anniversary of legendary Jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie's passing, the recently completed performing space at the Bahá'í Center in New York City was dedicated as the John Birks Gillespie Auditorium. Diz, who was a Bahá'í, played at many functions sponsored by his co-religionists but never had an opportunity to perform at the Bahá'í Center. The dedication ceremony included a performance by pianist Mike Longo's seventeen-piece New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble, which was scheduled to return on January 13 and 27 with Wally Dunbar's Jazz Eleven performing on January 20, the Lionel Hampton Alumni on February 3, and the Mike Longo Trio accompanying trumpeter Joe Magnarelli on February 10, French hornist John Clark on February 17 and Nabate Isles on March 3. Longo, who is also a Bahá'í, was Dizzy's long-time music director.
As Columbo Would Say, Just One More Thing...
Before we leave you, a note from the American Jazz Institute, which is hosting two concerts at Claremont (CA) McKenna College in February as part of the Duke Ellington Reunion Project. Ellington alumni will join the American Jazz Institute Big Band in Garrison Theatre, 231 E. 10th St. in Claremont on February 7 to perform Ellington’s New Orleans Suite and Ellington / Billy Strayhorn’s Queen’s Suite. On February 9, a jam session featuring Ellingtonians will be held at the Marian Cook Athenaeum, 385 E. 8th St. Among those scheduled to take part in one or both of the events are Louie Bellson, Jimmy Woode, Art Baron, Butch Ballard, Buster Cooper, John Lamb, Barry Lee Hall, Jeff Castleman, Rocky White, Milt Grayson, Vince Prudente and Barbara Winfield. The concert and jam session are free. For information, contact the AJI, 626-798-3127.
And until next month, keep swingin . . .!
