Album Notes

Dizzy's musical intelligence is broad and his curiousity is intense. There is little of the world's musical forms which he has not examined and considered for its potential rhythmic integration with jazz; this is particularly true of Latin American rhythms. Generosity is one of Dizzy's personal traits. He has consistently shared his fund of musical knowledge and values with historical jazz figues and new learners/players, literally teaching them and setting them in fresh directions he helped to develop. What was thought unorthodox and chaotic in the forties when Dizzy was playing "all those strange unheard of things" has emerged as vital classical aspects of modern music.

This record was made two days prior to Dizzy's performance at the Second International Jazz Salon at the Salle Pleyel in France, with a quintet including expatriate Don Byas on tenor, Arnold Ross on piano, Joe Benjamin on bass, Bill Clark on drums, and Humberto Canto on congas. The second half was recorded the next month, done with a different group including Byas, Bill Tamper on trombone, Hubert Fol on alto, Tarmond Fol on piano, Pierre Michelot on bass, and Pierre Lemarchand on drums. This rare recording is a real delight.