From the Record Shelves #312

Woody’n You

LP RCA Vintage Series LPV-530

In this tune from December 1947, we hear an inspired Dizzy Gillespie put life with his trumpet into an already very lively arrangement. He originally wrote it for Woody Herman’s Orchestra, and it was released under the title Algo Buono.

Beside Kenny Clarke at the drums there is an Afro-Cuban beat provided by Chano Pozo, a master Latin percussionist who unfortunately shortly after was killed in a bar.

To be asked to form a big band was a dream come true for a gifted composer, arranger, and soloist like Dizzy, but it came with the condition that it had to be done quickly. The year was 1946, and charts had to be borrowed from Billy Eckstine. But then the following year everything worked out well with the aid of arranger Gil Fuller and later George Russell. Then on top of that followed a new recording contract for Bluebird. In 1948, the big band went on tour to Europe, playing among other places in Paris and in Sweden.

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