Dizzy Gillespie: Live in Montreal

Captured live at the Montreal Jazz Festival, legendary trumpeter John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (whose signature puffed-out cheeks would have made a bullfrog envious) is joined here by blues guitarist Ed Cherry on a five-song set featuring "The Truth," "A Night in Tunisia," and "Blues de Dizzie" (i.e., "Dizzy's Blues"). "Well, I'm 63 years old, but going on 22," Dizzy sings in "Dizzy's Blues," but that youthful energy isn't apparent in the music until the Beethoven of Be Bop hits his stride about halfway through the concert (which, in all fairness, should include Cherry's name in the title, since he solos more and much longer than Gillespie). Still, between the impish jokes, funky onstage dancing, impressive scat (Gillespie handily wins a scat-off with the band members), and--eventually--hot jazz trumpet playing, Gillespie (who died in 1993) proves once again that he was not just a great jazz artist, but a consummate showman as well. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)