Dizzy Gillespie: A Night In Chicago

Filmed live in Chicago in 1989, the late great Dizzy Gillespie and his band perform half a dozen tunes, including Gillespie's own "A Night in Tunisia," before a small nightclub audience. The set gets off to an irreverently humorous start with "Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac," before settling into a string of standards ("Embraceable You," "Nature Boy," and "'Round Midnight"). Although not the most vibrant performance by "the Beethoven of Be-Bop," Dizzy Gillespie: A Night in Chicago showcases Gillespie at his most impish, backed by a strong band (particularly Sayyad Abdul Al-Kahbyyr on sax). He sings, dances, makes jokes about metaphysics and even throws in a little scat for an appreciative audience that's sure to include the legions of classic jazz fans. Recommended. (See INFANTASTIC LULLABYES, VOL. 2 for availability.)